Because I cannot wrap up one issue without bringing up another one ;)
In Times of Trouble
Scribbles-on-Parchment
December 4, 2021
Chapter 17 – Estel's Choice
Elladan could already feel that something was wrong as soon as he was awakened by a loud knock on the door to his room. All night his dreams had been filled with horrific visions of dead elves laid out across swaths of dark forest and evil creatures of the wood already coming out to feast.
Another loud knock at the door thankfully drove these images from the eldar's mind.
"Dartha," Elladan called out as he quickly threw a robe over his nightdress, "I am coming."
As he headed to open the door, he noticed that the sun was still low in the sky having just come over the horizon. The ellon felt a frown grow across his features as there was another louder knock at the door. He was growing more and more annoyed by the moment. Swallowing several choice words, the Noldo grasped the handle to the door and flung it open.
"I said I was coming," Elladan growled as he even before he laid eyes on his unwelcome guest, for he already knew who it was, "Did you not hear me call out to you, toron?"
As his brother's face came into view, Elladan suddenly felt the next words die on his lips. Elrohir stood before him, a look of grave concern on his face.
"What is it? What is wrong?"
The younger twin shook his head as he said, "Estel is gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"He is not in his room."
Concern began to show on Elladan's face as he asked, "And he is not anywhere in the gardens or in the Great Hall?"
Elrohir shook his head.
"And he is not simply out riding or perhaps in the kitchens?"
The younger Noldo once again shook his head, "Elladan, his weapons are gone, his cloak is gone, his pack is gone, his horse is gone. Trust me I have searched long for him, but he has left."
Elladan suddenly understood what his twin was telling him. He groaned loudly and ran a hand through his already disheveled hair before closing his eyes. Why did humans always have to make the most irrational and idiotic decisions at the worst times possible?
"We have to go after him, we do not have a choice. If he is going to the Greenwood to warn them of ada's…"
"Baw," Elladan cut him off sharply, "This was Estel's choice to make. He is not a child anymore. He can do what he sees fit, even if it will serve no good purpose in the end."
"But if he…"
"I said no, Elrohir. This is out of our control now. If he believes ada to be unable to stop his own realm from starting a war, then that is his own belief."
"And you think otherwise? You think ada will be able to find out who is responsible for this treason and put a stop to it?"
Elladan did not answer but turned and walked back into this room casting his robe aside as he did so. Everything was falling apart around him, and he had no idea how to stop it.
"What are you going to do? Are you just going to let Estel try to find his way to the Greenwood on his own? He will never make it. But then also think what would happen in the slim chance that he does. Think of what Thranduil would do when he hears word that his rival is suddenly preparing for battle. This can end in nothing good Elladan."
The Noldo clenched his hands into fists at this remark from his twin. Even he knew that Estel was still young in years and naïve. Even if he did happen to make it to the dark forest, he would never come back alive. At last, Elladan turned to look at his brother again as he asked,
"Do you know what way he might have taken?"
"South," Elrohir responded almost instantly, "He would not brave the mountains on his own. I am sure that he is heading for the Dunland."
"Then may you find him swiftly before anyone else does," Elladan looked his twin hard in the eyes, "You find him and you bring him back. The last thing we need is for a wind of any of this to make it to Thranduil's ears. If that should happen then you can be assured, we will have war."
"And what are you going to do?"
"I…," the eldar answered with a hard look appearing on his face, "I am going to speak with ada. There is something that he is not telling me and I think that it is high time that I found out exactly what it is."
Both brothers paused for a moment before Elrohir walked over to his twin and put a hand on his shoulder in a sign of farewell.
"Hortho le huil vaer," Elladan gave his brother's shoulder a squeeze, "And you had better come back to me in one peace or even Eru himself will not be able to keep you safe from my wrath."
"Harthon gerithach aeair vilui," the younger Noldo replied with a light smile as he dropped his hand to his side where it came to rest unconsciously on the hilt of his blade, "I will be back as quickly as I can with Estel."
Elrohir gave one last small smile before he turned away from his brother and headed towards the door. Yet, as he set foot into the hall he turned around suddenly saying,
"Oh, and Elladan, you do realize what could happen if you and ada cannot find a way to stop this rebellion. Please understand that if I hear a word or even see a sign of an Imladris army setting foot outside of this place then I will have no choice but to…"
"I understand toron. May you finish your task as swiftly as I do mine; then we shall, at last, be at peace."
Elrohir gave a slow nod. Then the eldar spun around and disappeared into the darkness that still clad the hallway.
As Elladan watched his twin go he could not help but feel a pang of worry. He had a feeling that it would be longer than he liked until he saw either of his brothers again. For such were the ways of the Estel – nothing was ever simple or easy.
"Glorfindel," Elladan called out as he caught sight of his father's second in command, "Have you seen my ada? He is not in his study, nor in his chamber."
The tall eldar turned slowly hearing the elder twin's call. The ellon's face was grim and Elladan could now see how tense his body was.
"What is wrong mellon? Has something become of my ada? Has there been more trouble?"
"Nay," Glorfindel's terse voice did nothing to dispel any of Elladan's fears, "Lord Elrond is as well as can be expected. He is at this moment in the stables trying to understand how and why two of his sons have suddenly vanished from Imladris during the night. But I am sure this is something that you know nothing of."
Elladan cursed quietly under his breath. He should have known something like this would happen.
"What was that that you said, elfling? Something you wish to tell me?"
The elder twin gave the commander a hard glare,
"What is my ada doing in the stables? And how does he know that Elrohir and Estel did not simply go for an early morning ride together?"
Now it was Glorfindel's turn to glare.
"Your adar has smarter than some nawag and he knows the foolishness of his youngest son well. And this was not simply some morning ride, I can assure you. For we have been told by the stable guard that they did not leave together and both were clothed for travel. But I am sure you know nothing of this."
Elladan ignored the remark, his mind trying desperately to think over what he needed to do. If his ada became worried about the safety of his sons would he not send out a patrol to try and find them? That would not be good.
"Where are they going, Elladan?" Glorfindel's voice was low and almost threatening, "Why did they leave?"
But the eldar did not answer. Elladan simply spun around and took off in the direction of the stables, leaving Glorfindel standing alone in the middle of the corridor. The older elf growled before following the retreating form of the Noldo.
Estel had already been riding for many hours when at last the sun began to grace the landscape around him. He let out a sigh of relief. He had been relying on his horse to be able to make its way safely along the paths towards the Dunland, for his eyesight was not like that of an elf in any respect. Being able to see the overgrown trail in front of him allowed him to relax slightly, for he could now see where he was going and how far he had come.
The young human noted the position of the towering mountains that loomed off to his left side. Seeing the snowy tops of the peaks and the jagged cliffs in the daylight made Estel relieved that he had not attempted to cross the high pass. He had contemplated it last night and had almost decided to do it as it would cut that amount of time he had to travel in half, but the darkness around him and the inexperience that he had going over that pass had made up his mind for him. It was safer to brave the open plains.
Ahead of him, Estel could now see the wide-open plains of the Dunland stretching out before him. A cold wind blew down from the mountain-tops and rustled the tall grasses. The young human shivered under his cloak as the realization began to set in. He was alone – alone on the open plains with no one to watch his back.
Estel shook his head like a million pictures of yrch and wargs crossed his mind. He would be fine. He was a grown man, a grown man who was capable of taking care of himself. He would prove everyone wrong and he would complete his mission. The Greenwood had to be warned about the possibility of an attack. He would not be like his ada or his brother and sit around doing nothing about it. If he could prevent a war from happening between these two opposing realms then he would.
His mind made up; a determined look crossed the edan's face. He knew what he had to do and he would not let anyone stop him from doing it.
"Come, Taur-calad," Estel said, reaching out to pet the soft mane of his trusted stead, "We will travel a little further than we will rest."
Not but two leagues behind him, Elrohir rode swiftly along the trail. He could still see the light imprints of his brother's horse on the earth that was still damp from the morning dew. Already he could see the flat plains of the Dunland drawing closer in the growing light. He knew that he was not far behind the foolish human. He had no doubt in his mind that he would find Estel before the sun was but halfway across the sky. Then he would be able to make it hastily back to Imladris before even his ada knew they were missing.
Elvish Translations:
dartha -wait
ada - dad
baw – no
hartho le huil – may useful winds speed you on (traditional elvish farewell)
harthon gerithach aeair vilui – I hope you have kind seas (traditional elvish farewell)
toron – brother
mellon – friend
adar – father
nawag – dwarf (literally translated: stunted one)
yrch - orcs