The Crownless Shall Again Be King

Chapter 3 – The Dream

The hunters made it back to the Last Homely House just after dinner – Estel hadn't said one thing on the way back and went to his room right away. Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas looked at each other but did not go after the human. Instead they believed that he would talk to them when he was ready.

Meanwhile, Estel was pacing his room back and forth; four feet to the picture window, five to the foot-board of his bed. As he paced he kept thinking of what Halbarad had told him. It had been two years since he had been told about his heritage by his adoptive father; but he wondered if that was the only reason that those people were on the look out for him.

In the midst of these thoughts, Estel jumped when a knock came to his door; he looked out his window and saw that the sun was setting. "Come in," he called, knowing that whoever it was knocking would hear him. Though the person who entered wasn't the one he was expecting.

Arwen opened the door slightly and poked her head in; dark strands of hair fell into her eyes, but she didn't mind them. She entered the room fully when Estel beckoned to her.

"My lady, what as brought you to me?"

"Our brothers and Legolas were worried during dinner, I thought I'd come and cheer you up," Arwen replied.

"Ah, I see why they would be worried,"

"What happened in the woods?"

"I got some information from one of my Rangers,"

"Dangerous information, I suspect," Arwen moved to sit on the bed. Estel sighed and started fiddling with the ends of his hair.

"Well, someone is looking for me, well, more like they are looking for Isildur's Heir, but same difference," He shrugged.

"I see; what are you going to do?"

"Well, I can't very well hide here, can I?"

"I don't suppose so; though, I'd hate to see you hurt," Arwen cautioned.

"You sound like you know what your talking about,"

"I have Ada's gift to foresee – but my gift is not as prominent,"

"But you can see a bit of the future?"

"I can see a future that might be; depending on our choices the future changes,"

"Does it come to you in dreams? Sometimes I get dreams of something…but I can never figure out what it is," Estel shrugged.

"Sometimes it comes in dreams, other times in visions, the Valar gives these to us so that we might make the right choices," Arwen smiled gently.

"What did you see?"

"I can't tell you that – all I can tell you is…you must do what you believe is right," she stood, her flowing gown swirling about her, the natural elven glow lighting up the now dark room; she crossed the room to stand in front of the man.

"I love you," she whispered, she kissed him gently on the cheek before she left. Estel didn't bother to light a candle – it seemed as if Arwen's glow had stayed behind to warm his heart.

No! stop! My love!

She couldn't got to him; it was as if she had been staked to the spot. She felt tears trailing down her cheeks as she watched him being tortured. Everything that he had once believe was being ripped away from his soul and something else (Darkness?) was replacing it.

NO! DO NOT DO THIS! She yelled. Irmo! Can I do nothing to stop this?

There was no answer, the dream kept playing out until finally the man collapsed and let out all of the sorrows he had kept inside of him. Estel, her love and joy was broken. But, this is only a vision of what may come, not what is…she reminded herself.

Then, all of a sudden, she was awake – she couldn't remember when she had fallen asleep; however, that did not matter. What mattered was that soon, Estel would go through the fires of hell, and he might not make it out alive. She rose off the davenport and pulled on her robe – it was late, maybe a few hours till morning.

Still, she could not keep the dream at bay; Arwen entered her balcony and looked over Imaldris by the help of the pale moon. The waterfalls fell gently, and the trees whispered to her hurting soul. Sometimes, she wished that Estel were an Elf – then she wouldn't worry about him so. But he wasn't, he had a different fate to fulfill, and she wanted to be beside him when that happened.

She knew that Estel would survive…whatever it was that was coming; it was inevitable, because one could not change fate like one could change the future.

Legolas sighed when he knocked on Estel's door; the young human was packing, but Legolas didn't know why. Estel stopped stuffing a shirt in his pack when he saw his friend.

"Legolas…"

"I know, you have to go and do…whatever it is you need to do,"

"I'm sorry, but I have to do it alone; people…you, my family, will get hurt if I don't do something,"

"I understand,"

"Would you…give this to Arwen for me? So she doesn't forget?" Estel asked, he handed Legolas a pendant of an Eagle with ruby eyes. Legolas took it then he dug in a pocket of his tunic. He brought out a pin. It was silver with crystals all about it.

"Be safe, my friend," Legolas said, handing the star to Estel who pinned it on his cloak. They hugged briefly before Estel grabbed up his pack and left the room. Legolas sighed once again as he watched his friend go, he knew that he could not go with Estel; but that did not stop him from wishing.

Elrond looked at Estel with understanding – he stood from his desk and rounded it in order to stand closer to his youngest son. A hand ran through Estel's dark, unbound hair. Grey eyes were shining with a light that Elrond knew would make any other man shake on the spot.

"This will always be your home, my Estel,"

"I will miss you, I'll come back as soon as possible," Estel replied, Elrond pulled the young man into a strong hug. Estel buried his head deep into his fathers robes and breathed deeply of forests and waterfalls. When they parted, Estel gave him a small smile.

"Thank you,"

"Please, come back safely,"

"I will," Estel replied, and then Elrond walked him to the courtyard of the house. There, a white stallion had been saddled and stood waiting for him. Estel wished his family luck before riding out of the courtyard and essentially making his way into the unknown worlds of men.

Notes – Irmo is the God of Prophetic dreams and Visions; one of the Valar.

A/N -- This is not beta-ed; I will probably try and re-write this chapter, and start on another chapter while on vacation.

ta,

Poppy

P.S. Please check out my Pirates fiction!