Footsteps echoed through the hall and Elessar looked up as his only son, Eldarion, skittered into the room. His tunic was crooked and he was panting, as if he had run a very long way.
Eldarion smashed into the front of Elessar's desk with both hands out to catch himself. "Hello, father. Can I hide in here?"
Elessar gave his ten-year-old son a long, amused looked before nodding his consent. Eldarion swung around the desk, worked his way between Elessar's chair and the table leg, and crouched down.
"Will you be there long?" Elessar inquired, looking at his son curled up near his feet and trying not to laugh outright.
Eldarion gave a vague wave of his hand and whispered, "As long as it takes Ron to find me."
A knock echoed on the door to Elessar's study. Eldarion pulled his cloak over him and sunk even lower into the floor. Elessar called for the guest to enter.
Elboron poked his head inside the room and scanned the perimeter before looking at the king. Elessar didn't mind. As Faramir's son, Elboron was like a nephew to Elessar and Arwen, as Eldarion and his sisters were to the Steward. "Good afternoon, my Lord. Have you seen a dragon?"
"Come in, Elboron," Elessar requested, and the boy did. He was holding a wooden practice sword and was shinning with sweat. "Should I be concerned about a dragon on our borders?"
"Oh, no, sir." Elboron looked horrified, clearly thinking he had alarmed the king. "Dari's the dragon. I'm supposed to kill him. Not actually, of course, but I have to find him anyway. Have you seen him?"
"Oh, Eldarion's the dragon," Elessar said as though he hadn't already figured that out. "Red cloak, yes? I think I saw him run past that way a little while ago." The king pointed to the right.
"Thanks, my Lord!" Elboron turned to run, then paused, bowed, and scampered out of the room.
Eldarion weaseled out from his hiding space as soon as his friend had left. "Thanks!" He threw his arms around his father's neck and then sprinted out of the room and down the hall in the opposite direction of Elboron.
Elessar allowed himself to laugh softly for a moment before continuing his tedious work. His favorite days were those when Eldarion and Elboron interrupted him, although he'd never let them know that.