The Moment Arrives
Elladan and Elrohir had come close to disgracing themselves during their latest lesson with Erestor, and the older Elf had muttered direly that he ought to set them some extra tasks as punishment. So when Elladan and Elrohir spotted Erestor coming into the garden, they tried to slip into an arbor before he could corral them. He was too quick for them, however.
"Elladan, Elrohir, your father wishes to speak with you."
The twins couldn't pretend that they hadn't heard him, and they reluctantly turned back.
"He also wishes to see Anomen. Where might he be?"
"He is with Doron," answered Elladan.
Erestor wrinkled his brow as he tried to bring that Elf's face to mind. Reluctantly he had to concede that he could not remember who he was.
"Doron? Hmmm. I don't recall anyone in Imladris named Doron. Is this Doron a visitor from Lothlórien?"
The twins tried to keep straight faces.
"No, Erestor," replied Elrohir. "Doron's roots in Imladris are deep, and he laid them down long ago."
Now Erestor was really bothered; how could he forget the face of an Elf who had long been a dweller in Elrond's realm?"
Softly he murmured to himself, "Doron's roots in Imladris are deep, and he laid them down long ago." Suddenly the truth dawned on him.
"You scamps," he cried, "this Doron is a tree, an oak tree, is he not?
The twins laughed, and Erestor could not keep himself from smiling.
"Very well, as you are so well acquainted with Anomen's friend, it is up to you to pay a visit to this Doron to inform him that he must make do without Anomen's company for a time. Your Adar awaits you, so hurry!"
The twins obediently ran from the garden through the gate that led to the forest. After Anomen had created such an uproar by running away—and inadvertently taking Arwen with him!—Elrond had agreed that there were certain well-patrolled spots near the Hall where the young Elf could seek sanctuary whenever he wished to be alone—as long as he told someone where he was going, of course. This compromise suited everyone.
Elladan and Elrohir came to the base of mighty oak whose branches provided many places for Anomen to perch in comfort. Peering up, they caught sight of him stretched out on a limb high above. He had been reading, but now he was looking down at the twins. They had not been trying to be quiet as they approached the tree, knowing as they did that, no matter how softly they moved, they were unlikely to succeed in creeping up on Anomen. Even if they had managed to evade his notice—his hearing was acute even for that of an Elf—no doubt Doron would have alerted him that someone or something was approaching.
"Anomen," called Elladan. "Erestor sends word that our Ada wants to see all three of us."
"Yes," shouted Elrohir, "and you'd better hurry. If you don't return to the Hall promptly, I've no doubt that Glorfindel will send out a search party for you!" The twins smirked. Anomen still felt a little awkward around the warrior-elf whom he'd led on more than one futile chase.
Anomen swung from branch to branch and gracefully dropped to the ground beside the twins. "I made sure to tell Glorfindel where I was going," he declared, a look of concern on his face.
"Anomen," said Elladan, "you should know that Elrohir is never to be taken seriously!"
The three turned and strolled back toward the Hall, speculating as they went as to why the elf-lord had summoned them.
"It can't be about this morning's lesson with Erestor," declared Elladan. Anomen was prepared, so Ada would not need to speak with him about that."
"Maybe," opined Elrohir, "Glorfindel was not satisfied with the job that we did polishing the swords and the shields."
"Maybe," mused Anomen, "we were supposed to have polished the helmets as well."
"No," objected Elladan, "I distinctly remember that Glorfindel mentioned only the swords and the shields."
"Ah," replied Elrohir, "but does Glorfindel distinctly remember mentioning only the swords and the shields? If he doesn't, we can forget about horseback riding this afternoon." The other two nodded glumly in agreement.
By this time the three had arrived back at the Hall, and they quickly made their way to the room in which Elrond conducted all the business of the realm.
Elrond arose from his seat as they entered the room, and the three stood facing him. This was not to be an informal discussion.
"I have been discussing with Glorfindel the status of the warriors-in-training. He informs me that each of you has made excellent progress. You in particular," he said, turning to Anomen, "daily demonstrate exceptional skill with the bow and arrow. But all of you," he continued, "display great maturity of technique—"
"—although," he added, as the faces of the three lit up, "you do not always demonstrate a maturity of action commensurate with the skill you demonstrate on the training fields." Elrond was grimly pleased to see that the smiles vanished, replaced by looks of shamefaced self-awareness.
"Nevertheless," Elrond continued, "it is Glorfindel's judgment that the three of you are ready to go on patrol."
Stunned but delighted, each young Elf grinned at the other two. Elrond, however, hastened to put a damper on their high spirits.
"You will, of course, patrol no further than three days' ride from Rivendell, and you will be expected to stay within the nucleus of the company. No gallivanting off on your own." Here Elrond directed a particularly hard look at Anomen. "If you should encounter an enemy, you are not to engage in any heroics. You will be more of a hindrance than an aid to your companions if you cast yourselves impetuously into the thick of battle. In any skirmish, Glorfindel would rather that you fall back and provide cover with your bows; otherwise, he will be excessively distracted by concern for your well-being."
All three Elves nodded, their heads bobbing up and down in their enthusiasm. Elrond looked at them doubtfully, however. He knew they were listening, of course, but had they actually heard anything that he had said? He sighed inwardly. Well, it couldn't be helped. No matter how long warriors-in-training were forced to wait, the younglings could not help but feel keen excitement when first sent on patrol. Making them wait until they came of age would make no difference. Better to get it over with and hope that the first few patrols would be peaceful ones. Ideally, these novice warriors would become familiar with the more routine aspects of scouting so that they would be somewhat less green when it came time for their first real taste of warfare. Yes, he thought, it would be too much to expect that they would be fully matured before they were thrown into battle, but at least he could hope that they would be a little less naïve when that inevitable moment arrived.
Elrond drew himself out of his reverie and looked at the young Elves standing before him. They were whispering excitedly amongst themselves. Elrond cleared his throat. They jumped and turned back toward him, guilty expressions on their faces. Elrond smiled a little to reassure them.
"I know that you are excited, and I know that you will find it hard to contain your excitement. I felt so the first time I went on patrol several millennia ago."
Elrohir and Elladan could not resist rolling their eyes a trifle at these words of fatherly wisdom, but they quickly grew grave when Elrond stared pointedly at them, his eyebrows arched.
"Go and pack your saddle bags and see that your weapons are in order. I will bid you farewell now, as you will be leaving well before dawn." He bowed to them.
Suddenly at a loss for words, the young Elves returned the bow. Elrond turned and strode from the room. As thrilled as they had been only moments before, the younglings now felt that this moment had arrived too abruptly. With no greater ceremony, on the morrow they were to join the ranks of the warriors.