Sorry it took me so long to update! I had a lot of setbacks but I'm
starting up again!
Hey grumpy! good to see u again!
@Kalin Syranan- Her real name is Arwen Undomiel, so I don't know why ff.net put it up as Arwen B.
Chapter 3
The Nettle
They had ridden for the whole day and stopped early where there was a small stream. Estel's back and bottom were both sore and he had quite a time just getting out of the saddle. He walked for a little bit with his legs far apart. He could hear Elladan and Elrohir snickering.
The stream was clear, but low. 'We could really use some rain out here.' said Elrohir. It was very true. The long grass was starting to burn and dust would rise from Estel's footsteps. They ate a meal of waybread and boiled vegetables. The peas were very green and the carrots more orange then tangerines. Estel ate his full but Elrohir and Elladan rationed their servings.
'You're going to starve if you eat that much every night.' said Elladan. Estel glared at him.
'Well maybe I wouldn't if we had a mid-day meal.' he retorted.
'Get used to it.' said Elrohir. 'We never stop for a mid-day meal. We won't just on your account.' Estel sighed and leaned back on his bedroll.
The night was very cold. Estel awoke once in the night to see that his face and bedroll was covered in a thin frost that glowed in the moonlight. He shivered and reached into his pocket. He found the small figurine and clutched it gently in his hand. He suddenly felt very warm and refreshed. He fell asleep again less then a minute later.
He awoke to find the stiffness gone and his stomach full. He was the first to have his horse ready. Voronwer was more then ready to travel some more. He too had eaten his fill and was completely refreshed. Elladan and Elrohir extinguished the fire and buried the remains. Estel rolled their bedrolls so that they'd have a quick start.
As they continued on the hills grew more dramatic with steeper slopes and higher peaks. Voronwer didn't show any sign of exhaustion, but Estel found himself stretching and groaning in his saddle. The journey on horseback was working him much harder then he had though. He gingerly touched the figurine in his pocket and suddenly felt refreshed as though he had eaten a full slice of Lembas.
'How far are we going today?' he asked as he rode next to Elladan.
'There is a river and some falls about three leagues away.' he said.
'We usually rest there on the second day.' finished Elrohir. Estel looked beyond them to the east over the mountains where gray clouds began to gather.
'Is it going to storm?' he asked. Elladan and Elrohir looked over to the mountains.
'Perhaps.' said Elrohir.
'The cliffs will shelter us though.' Elladan kicked his horse's flanks and rode to the top of the hill. 'You can see them from here, Estel.'
Estel mounted the hill and stared off into the distance. There was a short gorge with some mist growing out of it.
'We can ride to the west a little and follow the river towards them.' stated Elrohir. He smiled and looked to the others. 'Care for a race?' he asked. Elladan smiled and looked back to the falls.
'Last one there has to cook!' he yelled. Estel was thrown off as the twins got a head start.
'No fair!' he called as he began to pursue.
*
Estel and Voronwer were panting as they rode towards the falls. The sides of the river were both lined with hard clay that clogged up the horse's feet. Estel dismounted and stared all round him. Cliffs rose in every direction with trees growing all about. The falls were not very loud but the river flowed very quickly. There were several outcrops of sharp boulders from ageless landslides.
Elladan and rode up behind him.
'How did you get here so quick?' wheezed Elladan. Estel smiled and patted his horse's neck.
'I have my ways.' he said calmly with a smirk. Elrohir suddenly rounded the corner. He wasn't out of breath like the other two, but surprise was written on his face.
'How did you..?' he stared at the two of them. 'My shortcut never failed before!'
'Looks like you'll need a new one my friend.' said Estel as he tied Voronwer's reins to a tree trunk. The horse immediately began chewing and spitting the leaves. Estel quickly unsaddled him and loosened his rope so he could reach the long grass.
Soon there was a blaze going in the shelter from the mist behind a large rock. The heat projected off the slant and soon warmed up the bedrolls. Estel looked all around them. The falls fell from the northeast and the river cut south around the corner of the cliffs. The slope to the southwest had the easiest ascent even with the thick willows growing on it. Nettles and berry bushes lined the edge on that side of the river. On the northwest side where the camp was located, there were piled of athelas growing in tangles down the rocky slope along with wild blossoms and more berry bushes.
'Have you ever had a nettle in your knee?' asked Elrohir. Estel shook his head.
'I know what they are, and I know not to touch them, but I'm not sure why.' he said. Elladan smiled.
'Would you care to find out?' Estel shrugged.
'Does it irritate?' he asked.
'A little bit, but it won't last the night as long as you don't scratch it.' Elrohir rose and pulled a glove from his satchel. He slipped it on and went to pick a plant.
'We have a poultice that won't make it so bad though.' said Elladan as he reached around inside his bag for the small bottle of tan-colored cream.
Estel thought it would be no big deal. It would just be an experience that his brothers thought he ought to know about. Just another test to develop his skills. Thunder cracked overhead and Estel looked up to see the dark clouds block out the evening sun.
Elrohir returned with the nettle in his hand. It was a long stem with big green leaves that were similar to many other plants. Its stem and the bottom of the green plates seemed to have a short fur. Estel rolled up his pant leg and exposed his shin. Elrohir smiled as he wiped the plant against his flesh.
At first he didn't feel anything. His skin began to grow red and a welt appeared where the plant had touched. He gasped as a burning itch corrupted his skin. He reached to scratch it, but Elladan stopped him.
'Want the cream yet?' he asked. Estel stared with wide eyes at the welt, but shook his head. He felt so tempted to reach down and scratch it, to bring relief from the fire that burned on his membrane. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
'Okay, put it on!' he cried. Elladan rubbed the ointment on the skin which made it only itchier for a moment. Estel stared as the tan colored stuff seemed to disappear into his skin.
'Don't touch your leg for the night.' Elladan said as he put the cap back on. 'The itch will come back if the cream comes off.' Estel rolled down his trouser leg and leaned back on his elbows, soaking in the relief that swept over him.
'What made it itch so bad?' he asked. Elrohir tossed away the plant and gingerly took off his glove.
'Little needles in the plant are inserted into your skin.' he said. 'It itches a little bit.' Estel watched the twins begin to laugh.
.
.
All right, that's the last chapter for happy, go-lucky brother love and friendship mush for awhile. Things are going to get pretty dang ugly...
Hey grumpy! good to see u again!
@Kalin Syranan- Her real name is Arwen Undomiel, so I don't know why ff.net put it up as Arwen B.
Chapter 3
The Nettle
They had ridden for the whole day and stopped early where there was a small stream. Estel's back and bottom were both sore and he had quite a time just getting out of the saddle. He walked for a little bit with his legs far apart. He could hear Elladan and Elrohir snickering.
The stream was clear, but low. 'We could really use some rain out here.' said Elrohir. It was very true. The long grass was starting to burn and dust would rise from Estel's footsteps. They ate a meal of waybread and boiled vegetables. The peas were very green and the carrots more orange then tangerines. Estel ate his full but Elrohir and Elladan rationed their servings.
'You're going to starve if you eat that much every night.' said Elladan. Estel glared at him.
'Well maybe I wouldn't if we had a mid-day meal.' he retorted.
'Get used to it.' said Elrohir. 'We never stop for a mid-day meal. We won't just on your account.' Estel sighed and leaned back on his bedroll.
The night was very cold. Estel awoke once in the night to see that his face and bedroll was covered in a thin frost that glowed in the moonlight. He shivered and reached into his pocket. He found the small figurine and clutched it gently in his hand. He suddenly felt very warm and refreshed. He fell asleep again less then a minute later.
He awoke to find the stiffness gone and his stomach full. He was the first to have his horse ready. Voronwer was more then ready to travel some more. He too had eaten his fill and was completely refreshed. Elladan and Elrohir extinguished the fire and buried the remains. Estel rolled their bedrolls so that they'd have a quick start.
As they continued on the hills grew more dramatic with steeper slopes and higher peaks. Voronwer didn't show any sign of exhaustion, but Estel found himself stretching and groaning in his saddle. The journey on horseback was working him much harder then he had though. He gingerly touched the figurine in his pocket and suddenly felt refreshed as though he had eaten a full slice of Lembas.
'How far are we going today?' he asked as he rode next to Elladan.
'There is a river and some falls about three leagues away.' he said.
'We usually rest there on the second day.' finished Elrohir. Estel looked beyond them to the east over the mountains where gray clouds began to gather.
'Is it going to storm?' he asked. Elladan and Elrohir looked over to the mountains.
'Perhaps.' said Elrohir.
'The cliffs will shelter us though.' Elladan kicked his horse's flanks and rode to the top of the hill. 'You can see them from here, Estel.'
Estel mounted the hill and stared off into the distance. There was a short gorge with some mist growing out of it.
'We can ride to the west a little and follow the river towards them.' stated Elrohir. He smiled and looked to the others. 'Care for a race?' he asked. Elladan smiled and looked back to the falls.
'Last one there has to cook!' he yelled. Estel was thrown off as the twins got a head start.
'No fair!' he called as he began to pursue.
*
Estel and Voronwer were panting as they rode towards the falls. The sides of the river were both lined with hard clay that clogged up the horse's feet. Estel dismounted and stared all round him. Cliffs rose in every direction with trees growing all about. The falls were not very loud but the river flowed very quickly. There were several outcrops of sharp boulders from ageless landslides.
Elladan and rode up behind him.
'How did you get here so quick?' wheezed Elladan. Estel smiled and patted his horse's neck.
'I have my ways.' he said calmly with a smirk. Elrohir suddenly rounded the corner. He wasn't out of breath like the other two, but surprise was written on his face.
'How did you..?' he stared at the two of them. 'My shortcut never failed before!'
'Looks like you'll need a new one my friend.' said Estel as he tied Voronwer's reins to a tree trunk. The horse immediately began chewing and spitting the leaves. Estel quickly unsaddled him and loosened his rope so he could reach the long grass.
Soon there was a blaze going in the shelter from the mist behind a large rock. The heat projected off the slant and soon warmed up the bedrolls. Estel looked all around them. The falls fell from the northeast and the river cut south around the corner of the cliffs. The slope to the southwest had the easiest ascent even with the thick willows growing on it. Nettles and berry bushes lined the edge on that side of the river. On the northwest side where the camp was located, there were piled of athelas growing in tangles down the rocky slope along with wild blossoms and more berry bushes.
'Have you ever had a nettle in your knee?' asked Elrohir. Estel shook his head.
'I know what they are, and I know not to touch them, but I'm not sure why.' he said. Elladan smiled.
'Would you care to find out?' Estel shrugged.
'Does it irritate?' he asked.
'A little bit, but it won't last the night as long as you don't scratch it.' Elrohir rose and pulled a glove from his satchel. He slipped it on and went to pick a plant.
'We have a poultice that won't make it so bad though.' said Elladan as he reached around inside his bag for the small bottle of tan-colored cream.
Estel thought it would be no big deal. It would just be an experience that his brothers thought he ought to know about. Just another test to develop his skills. Thunder cracked overhead and Estel looked up to see the dark clouds block out the evening sun.
Elrohir returned with the nettle in his hand. It was a long stem with big green leaves that were similar to many other plants. Its stem and the bottom of the green plates seemed to have a short fur. Estel rolled up his pant leg and exposed his shin. Elrohir smiled as he wiped the plant against his flesh.
At first he didn't feel anything. His skin began to grow red and a welt appeared where the plant had touched. He gasped as a burning itch corrupted his skin. He reached to scratch it, but Elladan stopped him.
'Want the cream yet?' he asked. Estel stared with wide eyes at the welt, but shook his head. He felt so tempted to reach down and scratch it, to bring relief from the fire that burned on his membrane. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
'Okay, put it on!' he cried. Elladan rubbed the ointment on the skin which made it only itchier for a moment. Estel stared as the tan colored stuff seemed to disappear into his skin.
'Don't touch your leg for the night.' Elladan said as he put the cap back on. 'The itch will come back if the cream comes off.' Estel rolled down his trouser leg and leaned back on his elbows, soaking in the relief that swept over him.
'What made it itch so bad?' he asked. Elrohir tossed away the plant and gingerly took off his glove.
'Little needles in the plant are inserted into your skin.' he said. 'It itches a little bit.' Estel watched the twins begin to laugh.
.
.
All right, that's the last chapter for happy, go-lucky brother love and friendship mush for awhile. Things are going to get pretty dang ugly...