Yes, for the most part Estel is fine, at least for now *hint, hint* And in
time the twins will be too, as it says in the story. It's so kind of you
all to worry so much!
Anita- I got your E-mail, unfortunately I don't have a txt doc either. I guess I'll just have to put up with the formatting for now. At least it isn't anything too bad.
Thank you for all the nice reviews. I really do enjoy reading them.
In youth we learn; in age we understand Von Ebner-Eschenbach
Chapter 5: A Strange Village Indeed
Morning sunlight settled on Estel's face, causing the small boy to slowly open his eyes. He yawned, despite the soreness that was still in his jaw. He glanced around taking in his surroundings.
The rockslide had formed almost a cave like structure, imprisoning him inside. The tree above him was large, half supported by the rocks underneath and half supporting rocks that had fallen on top of it. Next to it was a small gap, maybe he could squeeze through.
Estel rolled quickly to his feet, reaching upward. His small fingers brushed the bottom of the tree, and he grasped on a branch. With a slight jump he pulled himself up with some effort. He had strengthened his upper body strength from climbing with the other elven children.
The gap was barely wide enough for him to get through. He slid down the loose rocks, dropping onto the ground. Looking around quickly Estel found himself in a whole new area, one he had never seen before. Dimly he realized that he must be on the other side of the hill.
Which way was home? He looked around, but it was no use. The rockslide had totally turned him around.
He gave a sigh, sitting down. He buried his face in his hands, crying softly. His stomach growled, he had not eaten since yesterday afternoon. Lifting his head up he searched the edges of the rock side quickly, hoping maybe to find a stray pack. But no such luck was found.
Estel pushed himself warily to his feet. He may as well start walking. He had learned some time ago that crying would not help anything. Wrapping himself in his dirtied coat, he made his way down the hill. Little did he know that he was headed in the wrong direction.
**********
Elrond tended the fire, lost deep in thought. Worries raced through his mind, thoughts that he may never see his youngest son again tore at his heart. He could remember clearly.
Five including himself had left Rivendell near morning time. They had traveled near a day, with no sign of the three when in the distance two forms could be seen near a small fire. They had approached to find Elladan and Elrohir.
Both the twins were in bad shape, Elladan was not even conscious. It had been the only thing that had stopped them in their journey. Tear of relief streamed down Elrohir's face as his father had pulled him into a warm embrace, and quickly he stuttered what had happened. There was no sign of Estel.
No sign of Estel.
Elrond and Rohden had carried the twins back, while the other three went on to search for Estel. It broke the Elven King's heart to leave the fate of his youngest son in the hands of others, be he knew that he had to get his sons home and care for them as quickly as possible.
Both the twins had been treated, and now resting. Elladan still had not awoken, and Elrohir had also lapsed into unconscious. In time both of them would be fine. But he was still needed. Otherwise he would have gone searching for his youngest son.
He gave a heavy sigh, moving over to the beds that held his injured sons. Placing a large hand of Elladan's forehead he was relived to see that his fever had dropped.
Elladan had mostly bruising, along with a sprained ankle. Elrohir, however, had a slight concussion, and a broken kneecap. It would be some time before he was able to walk again.
Elrond looked out the window, wondering how much hurt Estel had taken. Was is too much for the boy to handle? Was Estel alive? Or was he.no, he would not accept that fate. Estel was alive, he knew it in his heart. Estel was alive.
********
Estel made his way along the stream he had found several hours ago. He had already quenched his thirst and washed the mud off his face. He was still very hungry, but had yet to cross any source of food.
He drug his feet in the ground, billowing dust in the air. He was tired from walking, and his jaw now ached severely. He rubbed it gently.
Suddenly a rabbit bounded out from the bushes, racing in front of him. Estel wasted no time in chasing it. If he could catch it, perhaps he could build a fire and cook it. The rabbit led him on a fine chase, up one hill, down another, through a thorn bush, and across the shallow river. Finally it bounded into the safety of its den, and Estel now found himself even more lost that he was before, if that was possible.
He kicked the ground in frustration. "Stupid Rabbit," he yelled, crossing his arms. Sticking his tongue out toward the hole in last satisfaction he turned and continued his lonesome journey.
He had traveled a little while longer when he suddenly saw a village settled in front of him. It was a strange village, one he hadn't seen before. He had been to villages near Rivendell, traveling with his father sometimes. Still it was a village, and he made his way quickly to down the final hill.
**********
It was near afternoon when Estel finally reached the village. Buildings lined up and down the dirt roads. Trees hung on the outer edges and the river made it's way around the main part of the village.
Many of the villagers were outside, and he immediately recognized them as elves. He found it strange, for he had not heard of any other elven villages besides Rivendell and Mirkwood, and this certainly was not Rivendell. Had he traveled all the way to Mirkwood? That was impossible wasn't it?
The elves stared at him as he passed by, making him shift uncomfortable. To the side he saw one that seemed to be friendly, and made his way toward him. He was halfway their when shouts caught his attention.
A group of elves were racing in his direction, shouting and pointing. Estel looked behind him, but saw nothing. He turned around again, thoroughly confused. It was then he realized that the elves were racing after him.
Quickly he turned and ran, but he was no match for the fair beings. The quickly caught him, throwing him harshly on the ground and pulling his hands forcefully behind his back. A fist caught him in his jaw, adding to the already tender flesh. A dagger was drawn and placed against his neck, the cold steel biting softly into his flesh.
He turned a frightened look upward as a tall, dark-haired elf approached, his eyes blazing with fury as he drew his weapon.
TBC... Another short post, I've been busy. I will try and make the next chapter longer, but that's not a promise. Let me know what you think!
Anita- I got your E-mail, unfortunately I don't have a txt doc either. I guess I'll just have to put up with the formatting for now. At least it isn't anything too bad.
Thank you for all the nice reviews. I really do enjoy reading them.
In youth we learn; in age we understand Von Ebner-Eschenbach
Chapter 5: A Strange Village Indeed
Morning sunlight settled on Estel's face, causing the small boy to slowly open his eyes. He yawned, despite the soreness that was still in his jaw. He glanced around taking in his surroundings.
The rockslide had formed almost a cave like structure, imprisoning him inside. The tree above him was large, half supported by the rocks underneath and half supporting rocks that had fallen on top of it. Next to it was a small gap, maybe he could squeeze through.
Estel rolled quickly to his feet, reaching upward. His small fingers brushed the bottom of the tree, and he grasped on a branch. With a slight jump he pulled himself up with some effort. He had strengthened his upper body strength from climbing with the other elven children.
The gap was barely wide enough for him to get through. He slid down the loose rocks, dropping onto the ground. Looking around quickly Estel found himself in a whole new area, one he had never seen before. Dimly he realized that he must be on the other side of the hill.
Which way was home? He looked around, but it was no use. The rockslide had totally turned him around.
He gave a sigh, sitting down. He buried his face in his hands, crying softly. His stomach growled, he had not eaten since yesterday afternoon. Lifting his head up he searched the edges of the rock side quickly, hoping maybe to find a stray pack. But no such luck was found.
Estel pushed himself warily to his feet. He may as well start walking. He had learned some time ago that crying would not help anything. Wrapping himself in his dirtied coat, he made his way down the hill. Little did he know that he was headed in the wrong direction.
**********
Elrond tended the fire, lost deep in thought. Worries raced through his mind, thoughts that he may never see his youngest son again tore at his heart. He could remember clearly.
Five including himself had left Rivendell near morning time. They had traveled near a day, with no sign of the three when in the distance two forms could be seen near a small fire. They had approached to find Elladan and Elrohir.
Both the twins were in bad shape, Elladan was not even conscious. It had been the only thing that had stopped them in their journey. Tear of relief streamed down Elrohir's face as his father had pulled him into a warm embrace, and quickly he stuttered what had happened. There was no sign of Estel.
No sign of Estel.
Elrond and Rohden had carried the twins back, while the other three went on to search for Estel. It broke the Elven King's heart to leave the fate of his youngest son in the hands of others, be he knew that he had to get his sons home and care for them as quickly as possible.
Both the twins had been treated, and now resting. Elladan still had not awoken, and Elrohir had also lapsed into unconscious. In time both of them would be fine. But he was still needed. Otherwise he would have gone searching for his youngest son.
He gave a heavy sigh, moving over to the beds that held his injured sons. Placing a large hand of Elladan's forehead he was relived to see that his fever had dropped.
Elladan had mostly bruising, along with a sprained ankle. Elrohir, however, had a slight concussion, and a broken kneecap. It would be some time before he was able to walk again.
Elrond looked out the window, wondering how much hurt Estel had taken. Was is too much for the boy to handle? Was Estel alive? Or was he.no, he would not accept that fate. Estel was alive, he knew it in his heart. Estel was alive.
********
Estel made his way along the stream he had found several hours ago. He had already quenched his thirst and washed the mud off his face. He was still very hungry, but had yet to cross any source of food.
He drug his feet in the ground, billowing dust in the air. He was tired from walking, and his jaw now ached severely. He rubbed it gently.
Suddenly a rabbit bounded out from the bushes, racing in front of him. Estel wasted no time in chasing it. If he could catch it, perhaps he could build a fire and cook it. The rabbit led him on a fine chase, up one hill, down another, through a thorn bush, and across the shallow river. Finally it bounded into the safety of its den, and Estel now found himself even more lost that he was before, if that was possible.
He kicked the ground in frustration. "Stupid Rabbit," he yelled, crossing his arms. Sticking his tongue out toward the hole in last satisfaction he turned and continued his lonesome journey.
He had traveled a little while longer when he suddenly saw a village settled in front of him. It was a strange village, one he hadn't seen before. He had been to villages near Rivendell, traveling with his father sometimes. Still it was a village, and he made his way quickly to down the final hill.
**********
It was near afternoon when Estel finally reached the village. Buildings lined up and down the dirt roads. Trees hung on the outer edges and the river made it's way around the main part of the village.
Many of the villagers were outside, and he immediately recognized them as elves. He found it strange, for he had not heard of any other elven villages besides Rivendell and Mirkwood, and this certainly was not Rivendell. Had he traveled all the way to Mirkwood? That was impossible wasn't it?
The elves stared at him as he passed by, making him shift uncomfortable. To the side he saw one that seemed to be friendly, and made his way toward him. He was halfway their when shouts caught his attention.
A group of elves were racing in his direction, shouting and pointing. Estel looked behind him, but saw nothing. He turned around again, thoroughly confused. It was then he realized that the elves were racing after him.
Quickly he turned and ran, but he was no match for the fair beings. The quickly caught him, throwing him harshly on the ground and pulling his hands forcefully behind his back. A fist caught him in his jaw, adding to the already tender flesh. A dagger was drawn and placed against his neck, the cold steel biting softly into his flesh.
He turned a frightened look upward as a tall, dark-haired elf approached, his eyes blazing with fury as he drew his weapon.
TBC... Another short post, I've been busy. I will try and make the next chapter longer, but that's not a promise. Let me know what you think!