"'What were they supposed to do?'
Syd was silent for a moment. 'Laugh, I guess. [. . .] It's like showing the kid that the bogey man isn't hiding in the closet. You open the closet, no bogey. The child isn't afraid anymore.'
'You obvious don't have kids,' my mother said.
'What is that supposed to mean?'
'The child is still scared after you look in the closet. The reality of nothing being there doesn't erase the fear. She thinks of the closet like a scary place--when it's dark, and she's alone. . .' "
--Emily Jenkins, Mister Posterior and the Genius Child
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places thereof
Leggylover03: Why, you cruel person! Sorry, that was a joke. Mayhap he will go on an unexpected trip. I'm not sure yet!
Arabella Thorne: I suppose. He must encounter them at some point in his life.
Mad Wolf: You know, he does need a dog. That would make his life less lonely, especially what with Arwen and all. . .
Jr. Shieldmaiden: You owe me a coherent review, Eowyn. (and it's perfectly all right for me to be snippy about it, because I know you in person and you know I'm joking.) How is Vigo?
General note: Thanks to everyone for reviewing! I love hearing from you! This story did have a plot, but then I forgot it, so I'm just making it up as I go along. . .this is as much an adventure for me as it is for you! Haha. Anyway, I'm hoping to finish this one up by Halloween.
*****
And it would not go away. That image, that terrible picture of a blood- thirsty monster, wafted in front of Estel in the darkness, made more real and gruesome by his own active imagination. He could not close his eyes, for when he did the room closed around him: there they were, the orcs, there to eat him. . .His heart pounded and he whimpered but refused to cry out. He had bothered Ada once that night already and was not about to act like a baby and spend the night in Elladan's or Elrohir's or Ada's room-- and absolutely only babies did that. Instead he gritted his teeth and wound his fingers tightly into Ranger's wiry ruff. The dog growled a warning and Estel loosed the fur.
The orcs were back. Estel cowered, but he could sense them not far away, smell them--they smelled of blood and of dirt. What did they want with him? The question rose as a scream in his throat, but he bit it back. They were coming closer, he could see them, shifting shadows in the darkness. "Leave me alone," he whispered, but only a whisper: he dared nothing any louder. They grinned, their teeth gleaming although there was no light in the room. Frantically Estel scrabbled for a candle and flint, smacking the stones together. He knew not of friction, only needed light, and behold! for at once the candle burst into light, throwing back the darkness. Estel felt powerful with his candle, able to throw the orcs back and away from him. His heartbeat slowed and his breathing took a more regular rhythm. There was nothing, no monsters in the darkness. It was safe to blow out the candle.
On second thought, it was not. Estel had his lips pursed to blow but did not: the flame was all that kept the creatures at bay. "I have to know what they are, Ranger," Estel muttered, and it was true. He did not know what they were, but he knew that he would be nervous and frightened until he had was certain, and certain of his safety. "I have to."
This speech was punctuated by a shriek in the distance. There was no mistaking it: it was the cry of those foul beasts he had heard in his dream! At first Estel grabbed onto Ranger in fear. They sounded so close! But then, a foreign thought entered his mind: 'This is my chance.' He sat up. "This is my chance," said Estel aloud. "This is my chance!"
Estel slid carefully to the ground, taking the candle with him. Ranger raised his head. His eyes followed Estel as the boy made his way over to his dresser and plunked the candle atop it. He remained quiet and still as Estel pulled his nightshirt over his head and donned daytime clothing. The child carefully and quietly sat down and began to pull his boots on without socks, leaving the nightshirt in a heap on the floor. "One loop. . .two loops. . .the loop goes under. . ." he muttered, concentrating hard on the bows he tied. Ready at last, Estel stood up. He opened the window and, candle in hand, looked out on the nearby trees and the ground not very far away. His heart fluttered.
At this time Ranger gave a quiet "ruff" sound and leapt to the ground. He padded over to Estel and pushed on the boy's hand with his wet nose. Estel smiled gratefully. "This is it, Ranger," he said. "I am glad for your company now more than ever." Then, candle in hand, he straddled the window, slung both legs out, and dropped himself to the ground. It took all his effort not to fall to his knees: he dared not extinguish the candle. Ranger leaped down next to him.
The light of the candle was less significant now that they were outdoors. It seemed all the brighter, but the darkness all the greater, so much more territory unseen. Estel could hardly breath with the intensity of his fear. The sky was dotted with stars and the wind whispered in the trees. What was afoot this night? Anything could hide in those deep shadows. Something within Estel stirred above his fear, and it would be many years before he looked back and knew this for appreciation of the beauty before him. At seven years, he knew nothing but terror.
"Now more than ever. I have a bad feeling about this." And he stepped towards the trees, but not by choice: by compulsion.
*****
To be continued
All right, cast your votes now or forever hold your peace: Does Estel get captured by the orcs or does Elrond find him just in time? It's your choice!
Syd was silent for a moment. 'Laugh, I guess. [. . .] It's like showing the kid that the bogey man isn't hiding in the closet. You open the closet, no bogey. The child isn't afraid anymore.'
'You obvious don't have kids,' my mother said.
'What is that supposed to mean?'
'The child is still scared after you look in the closet. The reality of nothing being there doesn't erase the fear. She thinks of the closet like a scary place--when it's dark, and she's alone. . .' "
--Emily Jenkins, Mister Posterior and the Genius Child
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places thereof
Leggylover03: Why, you cruel person! Sorry, that was a joke. Mayhap he will go on an unexpected trip. I'm not sure yet!
Arabella Thorne: I suppose. He must encounter them at some point in his life.
Mad Wolf: You know, he does need a dog. That would make his life less lonely, especially what with Arwen and all. . .
Jr. Shieldmaiden: You owe me a coherent review, Eowyn. (and it's perfectly all right for me to be snippy about it, because I know you in person and you know I'm joking.) How is Vigo?
General note: Thanks to everyone for reviewing! I love hearing from you! This story did have a plot, but then I forgot it, so I'm just making it up as I go along. . .this is as much an adventure for me as it is for you! Haha. Anyway, I'm hoping to finish this one up by Halloween.
*****
And it would not go away. That image, that terrible picture of a blood- thirsty monster, wafted in front of Estel in the darkness, made more real and gruesome by his own active imagination. He could not close his eyes, for when he did the room closed around him: there they were, the orcs, there to eat him. . .His heart pounded and he whimpered but refused to cry out. He had bothered Ada once that night already and was not about to act like a baby and spend the night in Elladan's or Elrohir's or Ada's room-- and absolutely only babies did that. Instead he gritted his teeth and wound his fingers tightly into Ranger's wiry ruff. The dog growled a warning and Estel loosed the fur.
The orcs were back. Estel cowered, but he could sense them not far away, smell them--they smelled of blood and of dirt. What did they want with him? The question rose as a scream in his throat, but he bit it back. They were coming closer, he could see them, shifting shadows in the darkness. "Leave me alone," he whispered, but only a whisper: he dared nothing any louder. They grinned, their teeth gleaming although there was no light in the room. Frantically Estel scrabbled for a candle and flint, smacking the stones together. He knew not of friction, only needed light, and behold! for at once the candle burst into light, throwing back the darkness. Estel felt powerful with his candle, able to throw the orcs back and away from him. His heartbeat slowed and his breathing took a more regular rhythm. There was nothing, no monsters in the darkness. It was safe to blow out the candle.
On second thought, it was not. Estel had his lips pursed to blow but did not: the flame was all that kept the creatures at bay. "I have to know what they are, Ranger," Estel muttered, and it was true. He did not know what they were, but he knew that he would be nervous and frightened until he had was certain, and certain of his safety. "I have to."
This speech was punctuated by a shriek in the distance. There was no mistaking it: it was the cry of those foul beasts he had heard in his dream! At first Estel grabbed onto Ranger in fear. They sounded so close! But then, a foreign thought entered his mind: 'This is my chance.' He sat up. "This is my chance," said Estel aloud. "This is my chance!"
Estel slid carefully to the ground, taking the candle with him. Ranger raised his head. His eyes followed Estel as the boy made his way over to his dresser and plunked the candle atop it. He remained quiet and still as Estel pulled his nightshirt over his head and donned daytime clothing. The child carefully and quietly sat down and began to pull his boots on without socks, leaving the nightshirt in a heap on the floor. "One loop. . .two loops. . .the loop goes under. . ." he muttered, concentrating hard on the bows he tied. Ready at last, Estel stood up. He opened the window and, candle in hand, looked out on the nearby trees and the ground not very far away. His heart fluttered.
At this time Ranger gave a quiet "ruff" sound and leapt to the ground. He padded over to Estel and pushed on the boy's hand with his wet nose. Estel smiled gratefully. "This is it, Ranger," he said. "I am glad for your company now more than ever." Then, candle in hand, he straddled the window, slung both legs out, and dropped himself to the ground. It took all his effort not to fall to his knees: he dared not extinguish the candle. Ranger leaped down next to him.
The light of the candle was less significant now that they were outdoors. It seemed all the brighter, but the darkness all the greater, so much more territory unseen. Estel could hardly breath with the intensity of his fear. The sky was dotted with stars and the wind whispered in the trees. What was afoot this night? Anything could hide in those deep shadows. Something within Estel stirred above his fear, and it would be many years before he looked back and knew this for appreciation of the beauty before him. At seven years, he knew nothing but terror.
"Now more than ever. I have a bad feeling about this." And he stepped towards the trees, but not by choice: by compulsion.
*****
To be continued
All right, cast your votes now or forever hold your peace: Does Estel get captured by the orcs or does Elrond find him just in time? It's your choice!