Gilraen stood on the balcony, the wind playing in her hair and teasing at her dress; she took no notice. She was lost to the world and all in it, but to an observer it might seem her eyes were fixed on a small boy, playing on the grass below the balcony by himself. The boy was oblivious of the woman's gaze, for he was busily digging a hole that someone told him would lead to buried treasure. His caretakers had evidently run out of other entertainments.
All this Gilraen saw, and yet she did not, for her mind was far away and the rest of her seemed like to follow it there. She was once again debating what she should do.
The child is safe. Elrond will care for him here, as he has protected many other Heirs of Isildur. Elrond's sons will watch over the boy, for they were great friends of Arathorn's, and for his sake I think they will do much. My little boy is safe here, safer then at the Village of the Edain. I have fulfilled my last promise to Arathorn. He will grow up safe, free from harm and war, under the protection of Rivendell. And now that this promise is fulfilled, I come to the choice: am I really needed here any longer? there are plenty of elves to take care of my son, Elrond to father him, the twins to be his brothers. What need could he have of one lonely mother? He has mostly forgotten me already in this place. See how he does not look up at me as he digs away so busily? and I could be doing so much more in the world outside. I could go back to our village, help with the war, help the new chieftain to adjust to the duties of Arathorn. it would be a noble task, unlike sitting here watching a boy grow to manhood! These three months in Rivendell have seemed an age! I will leave and do much more!
Turning, Gilraen strode away from the balcony, convinced that her purpose was noble and she was not needed there. But as she ran away from Estel, he turned and looked up at her one last time. The pleading in his eyes would have broken any resolve, however firm. But Gilraen never turned to look back as she fled her son. She left in a week, and for many long days afterward, Estel sat only under the balcony and stared out into space.