Disclaimer: The characters are not mine and I make no money from writing this fiction.
(I uploaded the wrong version of chapter 3 of Spider. The correct version is there now – only minor changes but they were annoying me!)
The bed of the river slopes steeply and Estel is up to his thighs before I can catch hold of him. I have to lift him clear of the water then clasp him to me as I wade back to the shore. He is shouting at me, his cries becoming more and more desperate but I keep silent until I set him back on his feet.
"Estel. You will cease this noise now. Do you understand that the louder you yell, the more likely you are to scare …"
"But Papa! He's only got you and me and Legolas to defend him!"
"Estel!" I hold him firmly by both arms. "Stop shouting! Now!"
He finally stops but he breathes heavily and he is still trying to pull away from my grasp.
"Listen to me. The river is too deep for you to cross here. There is a bridge a hundred yards upstream. We can cross there." I try to keep my rising anger from my voice. My quieter tones begin to drag Estel's attention away from his desire to run to aid his pony.
He stands before me, dripping river water onto the grass, shaking and desperate. He takes a deep breath and comes back to himself.
"Now?" he says, though his voice is uncertain.
Legolas, who had been tending the fire, stands suddenly and peers into the distance. We all hear the wolf's cry echoed by another, and another. They are bold, these wolves, but the land beyond the Bruinen here is wild. They will not cross my river but they hunt in the forests close by when they are hungry enough.
"There!" Legolas says quietly. "And there – a herd of horses. Wait," he says, when Estel tries again to free himself. "Men with the horses – three, perhaps four. The horses are becoming difficult to control. The men need fire to defend themselves, Elrond, and they do not have time to kindle it!"
He takes four branches and ties them together with a leather strap, then makes another torch quickly, and a third. "There is no time, Elrond! We must help them. Leave Estel here! He will be safe."
"My pony! Legolas! Can you see Spider with them?"
I look now and see the straggling band of horses and men, all running for the bridge. But it is too far. Then I see his pony, and he knows from the way my hands grip his arms more tightly that I see him.
I know immediately the time it will take to persuade him to wait here for us, or return to the house. He will come after us, braving my anger at his disobedience, having weighed that against the chance of saving the pony he lost through his carelessness.
I make my decision.
"Light the torch, Estel. Stay with us, as close as you can! We shall show them the way!"
And that is truly all I thought, that we would run to the bridge and guide the men and their horses to safety. I heard Legolas' grunt of surprise but his torch was already alight and he was running hard, along the bank. He would do what he could to keep Estel safe by putting himself first into danger but his haste only encouraged Estel to run after him. With our torches blazing we ran, Legolas, Estel and I, along the bank of the Bruinen and back to the track we had left but a few minutes before.
The bridge, dark and high, crosses the river in a single span. It is narrow, room for only one horse and one man at a time but it has no guard. None has ever been needed beyond my own hold over all Rivendell.
Legolas is on the other side already, running full pelt for the band so desperately in need of his aid and still so far way.
Estel runs after him and I stay close to the boy, aware that we have only knives between us. Legolas does not have his bow, I do not have my sword yet here we are, running towards great danger with only fire to protect us. Yet it is too late to change course now. We are half way over the span of the bridge and I watch the prince lengthen his stride still further as he outdistances us.
Estel runs as he has never run before, with a quiet purpose in him, a single-mindedness that gives all his energy to this race. His brand burns bright, thanks to Legolas' skill in preparing it, and he has his knife ready. It will not be long now, and he will use that knife if he has to, I know. I want to gather him in my arms and take him home but I cannot do that to him. His spirit is being given full rein, and it is a strong, true spirit giving him strength to do what he must.
Then there is no more time for thought, for the horses are upon us, around us, stamping and snorting their terror. They halt suddenly, one rearing. Why do they not go straight for the bridge? I turn to look and there, between us and the bridge, three wolves have come round behind us. They are indeed bold, for the risk to them is great. For the first time I wonder if they have some purpose other than taking down the weakest horse and I grasp Estel and pull him closer to me.
He is scared now, but he faces outward and does not turn to me for comfort. The men are trying to drive the horses forward but they mill, and will not move, surrounded as they are by the pack.
Shouts, and two of the men, aided by Legolas, drive off two wolves that have crept too close. We must move the herd towards the bridge, for they are our only protection, as we are theirs.
"My lord!" one of the men shouts, and I recognise a local man, good and true. "There is a sword in my pack! And we have a bow, though we only have three arrows left."
The weapons are distributed hastily, Legolas handing his torch on to one of the men before he begins to circle, searching for the truest aim. Our position is changing, the horses moving parallel to the river and away from the bridge. The world darkens under the heavy clouds but there is no rain and our torches still burn brightly.
"We must attack!" says Legolas. "They are driving us into the trees! Kill the three between us and the river and then we must try to cross it!"
It is a desperate plan but he is right, we cannot stay here. "Hold your torch high, Estel," I counsel him. "When we come to a river I will put you on a horse. You must stay on its back, as we have taught you."
"Yes, Papa," he says, holding the torch out in front of him. He takes a step forward then my attention is pulled from him as Legolas fires one arrow and a wolf yelps and falls. That death seems to unleash the rest of the pack and they crawl towards us, snarling and maddening the horses still more. Their purpose no longer seems to be take a kill but to defeat us. Never have I known wolves behave like this. They work together to drive us, keeping just out of range and I snatch a glance at Estel, who still holds his torch. He swings it to and fro, keeping it alight, and he is close by.
Legolas steps forward, his tall frame tense for a moment then relaxed as he sights his foe. The arrow is loosed, finds its mark and he immediately stands aside while we drive the horses towards the river. One wolf remains, holding its ground, baring its teeth at us and it is my turn to deal with this animal, for Legolas must keep his third arrow as our last chance. I take a pace forward and the wolf leaps but it is no match for me. I kill it swiftly and then reach out for Estel's hand as I shout to all to run for the river.
I search round for a horse I can master and for Estel, who has not come to my call. There is a cry behind me and I turn immediately to respond to Estel. I can see Legolas already running to his assistance and can hear him call but Estel stands still, his torch in front of him, as the horses run past him.
"Die, wolf!" he screams, rushing at the beast which cowers away from the flame. He takes the torch back over his shoulder and with all his strength swings it as he runs forward.
For a second, I cannot move. I watch as the torch hits the wolf's head, throwing it back on its haunches. Estel tries to stop but falls headlong, the torch knocked from his hands, and lies at the feet of the great wolf. He takes out his knife and stabs at the beast and I grasp my sword and run to his aid. Legolas is quicker than I and he fires, missing the boy by inches and downing the wolf. It falls on Estel but he is on his feet again in a moment, his hands bloodied and his face full of the wild triumph of his victory.
I glance round. The horses are moving away from us, driven by the men who have other cares apart from our safety as they try to find off the last of the wolves. I summon up every ounce of willpower and call to the horses. One surely must hear me, for I am master of horses and the words I use are powerful ones. Two turn, held in indecision and then a third trots forward boldly, coming to my summons. It is tall and strong and its back is a safe haven for my boy. I catch him up and throw him and he lands on the horse's back and quickly settles himself, automatically grabbing a handful of mane. Then we run.
The wolves are close on our heels, the horses in front of us and I keep close to the horse, trusting that Legolas is there too. Then I see him astride another horse and I know he will make the river crossing alongside Estel, so that no harm will come to him. Estel is shouting his triumph into the air but then he looks for me.
"Papa! Run! They are close behind you!"
"Hold tightly, child, there is the river!"
"Spider! Spider!" he is shouting, looking frantically around.
Legolas reaches across and catches his attention. "There, Estel – look!"
And his pony, surrounded by larger horses, gallops boldly forward with the rest and does not hesitate when we all rush headlong into the water. Then there is only the strength of the water to contend with, but this is my river and, though I have not had time to command it, I am safe. The plunge of horses, the crash of spray over me and the speed of our flight overwhelms my senses then we are standing, the horses blowing hard, the men sitting on the bank and my boy still sitting high on his horse. Legolas jumps down and goes to him and the boy slides into his arms.
I go to him. He is tired but he is beaming with joy. As soon as Legolas has asked him if he is all right, and he has nodded, we let him go to Spider.
He stands in front of the pony. "Naughty Spider!" he says firmly, shaking his finger at the pony. "You must do what you're told! You mustn't run away!"
At my side, Legolas laughs breathily, the tension of the fight released. He is watching the wolves slink away and disappear into the trees.
Estel has given up reprimanding his pony and has his arms round the animal's neck instead.
"He has the stoutest heart of any boy I have encountered," Legolas says, laughing no longer. "He might have dispatched that wolf himself, had he been a little stronger."
"I am grateful, Legolas. Grateful for your skill. Now we had better get ourselves back to the house. This victory pleases me more than any battle against orcs. He is a fine boy, a fine boy."
And I walk to him to tell him just that. His fatigue is beginning to make his shoulders slump but he is still full of chatter about what has happened.
"Come, Estel. Ride your pony back. Look, he is standing waiting for you," I say, stilling him with a hand on his shoulder.
And indeed it seems that at last Spider is going to behave himself. Estel jumps onto his back and waits for the adults in his life to sort themselves out.
An invitation is extended and accepted, and we all move off together, driving the horses between us. Estel ride proudly between us, looking from one to another and chattering excitedly, though he must be cold and uncomfortable. Gradually he falls quiet as we reach the lights of the house. Yet his back is straight, his grip on his pony is sound and his head is up.
His behaviour will be food for much discussion over the next few days. But I will give him his victory and I watch with pride as he jumps from his pony's back and leads him to the stable, then insists that he tends to the pony's needs before his own.
And at the evening meal, when he is once again clean, and warm, and full of good food, he tells his story with a modesty which pleases me. He begins to drowse while the adventure is woven into song but he is still awake at the end of the meal, looking about him with a new expression.
He encountered a wolf and the wolf died. His pony is back in the stable. Halbarad sits by his side and Elladan is feeling better.
All is right with his world.