The Sound of a Slamming Door: chapter 2…. On the Road to Mirkwood.

By Nelarun

A/N: Once I had finished typing the story (and received a few e-mails) I came to realise that I had set myself up for a chapter story… This is only going to be four or five chapters.

A huge Thank you to lindahoyland who beta'd this chapter and pointed out some major mistakes!

Estel sat in front of Erestor as he listened to the tales that the advisor told him. They were riding to Mirkwood with some other elves (Lord Elrond, and a few warriors) and little Estel was finding it hard to keep himself entertained. Erestor had noticed that and yesterday had placed Estel in front of him and started telling the child tales. "And so Beren and Luthien wed, and their children became the Kings of a new age."

"The first age!" Estel spoke up.
"The First Age of men, yes." Erestor agreed with him, a smile crossing his face at the knowledge of how well Estel was learning. "Can you tell me what happened in the second age?" Erestor asked his student.
Estel stared at the horses head for a moment as he thought carefully. "The defeat of the Dark Lord!"Erestor nodded. "Any thing else?"
Again silence sounded through the air as the little by thought things over. "Isildur took the ring of power instead of destroying it."

The elves reacted with shock. "How did you know about that?""It was in the books!" Estel answered. The elves looked at each other, they didn't even tell their own young about the ring until they were at least twenty.

"What else do you know?" Erestor asked, fighting to keep the shock out of his voice.
"When Isildur died the ring was no where to be found."
Erestor felt a frown furrow his brow. That information had not been put down in the books. "Have you any other sources?" Erestor asked softly. The boy looked down and shook his head.
"No..."
"Estel..." Erestor warned.
"I over heard Nanneth and one of the Rangers talking about old tales of Gondor." Estel admitted. Erestor and Elrond shared a look. Gilraen had opted to not go to Eryn Lasgalen with the company of elves, instead using the time to travel to the Angle to spend a month with friends and family; but Elrond knew that as soon as they returned, he would have to talk to her about important information in the vincinity of young ears.

"Are we there yet?" Estel asked suddenly and Elrond smiled as one of the warriors buried his head in his hands. The elf had obviously spent far too much time around the Rangers. "No Estel. We have several more days ahead of us." Elrond answered.

Estels mouth formed an 'O' and he fell silent for a few moments as he thought of his next question. "Ada,""Yes Estel?"
"Why can't I walk on snow?"

Apart from the endless barrage of ceaseless questions from Estel, the journey was reletively quiet. Of course Estel wouldn't be Estel if he hadn't tried at least once to get the better of the elves and giggling softly to himself, ran away when they were at a camp. It wasn't a bright idea, especially as they were so close to Eryn Lasgalen, but the seven year old wasn't to know that. So off he ran in the dark, through the forest until he tripped and rolled, losing his bearings. The little boy picked himself up and groaned when he saw the painful and bleeding scratch. "Aw, and I was going to prove to Legolas that I can keep out of harms way for a little while!" resignedly, he started off in the direction he thought the camp was.

After an hour of walking Estel had to admit he was lost. completely and utterly lost! So he did the only thing any self respecting seven year old would do. He planted himself on a rock and cried.

The Elves were woken well before morning by their horses. Looking around, they looked for the danger that the horses were warning them of, and a cold dread settled in their stomaches, for little Estel was gone. Elrond turned to the two guards who had been watching the camp. "How did a human child slip past you?" his voice was dangerously calm and the guards knew they were in trouble.

"There was a bit of animal activity, my lord." the oldest there answered in stead of his friend. "Estel could have slipped out then."

"He probably saw something that caught his fancy and took after it." Erestor agreed softly, nodding his head. Instantly the elves took up bows and arrows and went in search of their errant child. One of the younger elves found the tracks and the hunt began.

Estel woke up to the feel of something warm and wet on his face. He opened his eyes to see a wolf standing over him. The grey wolf backed off when he saw the human was awake. Estel sat up and looked around. Wolves surrounded him. Some sat the others lay. All watched him. He shrank closer to the rock knowing that wolves were dangerous animals. But why haven't they attacked yet? Estel asked himself, careful to not make any eye-contact with any of the wolves. In truth, the wolves hadn't attacked because he wore a tunic of the elven making, he looked part elven, he smelt part elven and had braids in his hair. The wolf pack had come across the child last night and knew that the child was important to the First ones. So they sat and waited. And waited... and waited.

The wolf leader turned his head as he heard running feet. Standing, he walked to the other side of the boy and sat again, panting slightly. He saw the First ones enter the area and a low grumbling started in his chest as he saw the bows and ready arrows. Standing he walked a few paces before sitting again, managing to overcome instinct.

Elrond watched as the alpha male walked towards them before sitting again. Once every elf was in the area, the wolf stood and bowed before them. Elrond nearly laughed. Because Imladris was the Last Homely House, he had forgotten what a real wolf pack was like. One who hadn't been tainted by the dark lords curse. Elrond bowed his head to the wolf and the wolf trotted contently back to his pack.

Elrond saw Estel against the rock, obviously scared out of his wits. Elrond walked over to the child and gently picked him up and held him close. Estel buried his head in Elronds shoulder, though he made no sound.

As they began riding again, Elrond heard Estel whisper to him, "I'm sorry ada. I didn't mean to get lost or attacked by wolves."

Elrond smiled and gently held the boy close. "You are forgiven, Estel. Try to sleep."

Estel nodded and his back sagged against Elrond's stomach, safe in his fathers arms.