A/N) This chapter deals with a bit of knowledge on Harad and since I do not know where I can find any suitable cultural references to Harad, I have created my own version of their culture.



These signs // means something that person in reflecting on. This sign / indicates thoughts.



This chapter is a bit short but it's essential to the story later on. It needs to be here.



And thank you for those who reviewed! You made my day!





Just an Innocent Child



Chapter 2: The Lesson of Innocence



Months passed.



Rivendell had never become so lively. The combined efforts of Estel, Dilir and the twins kept Glorfindel and Sîrfalas - Lord Elrond's two advisors - busy with their constant tricks and jokes. But every so often the two elves could be seen contemplating suicide as the constant bantering between the elves and two small humans kept them running around after them, making sure that none of them were hurt.



Sitting on the fountain that resided in the courtyard outside the house, Estel easily leaned back, hanging on for grip. He was humming an elvish song he had heard earlier that day and was trying his hardest to remember it, however the constant words of Glorfindel's lesson earlier continued to shred itself into his brain.



//Flashback - Estel's POV//



"Today young Estel we will revise what we've learnt about the far countries of Harad and Khand. Two weeks ago we had a long talk about the doings of men in those parts and what they did in the Great War during the Second Age of this world. Now the country of Harad was on who's side?" Glorfindel asked.



"They were with Mordor. With the dark lord Sauron." I said proudly, surprised at myself that I had remembered it after all.



"Well done little one." Glorfindel smiled. "Now tell me the culture of Harad in as much detail as possible."



I frowned thinking. Then I said: "Harad is a barren country where most of the population are controlled by the people who have power. Each piece of land that is owned has a number of slaves that live in mud-flaps all through the year. They help to farm the land and in return they are rewarded with one day a year freedom to do whatever they wish, however no one in the same tribe as the same freedom day. The people that control the slaves take pride that they are doing something remarkable for their country. If one person is in control of the land and their family is their slaves then the people who the slaves benefit and are not treated badly like the other slaves. Each person is given a specific expiry date. The average age is 45 as the slaves are becoming slow and old and will not last that long in the conditions that they live in. The weather in Harad is usually hot throughout the year and there is only one rainy season per year and that month varies according to the temperature. In this conditions the slaves have to work and they are punished if they fall down or do even a tiniest something wrong. The culture from Harad differs from ours in many ways because everyone here is treated equal while the people in Harad are not. They are treated lower and as animals that can be disposed when they are unworthy to be used any longer." I hesitated. "That is all I know."



"Very good Estel. You seem to have taken in the values of how our life differs from theirs." Glorfindel said.



"I am just wondering why people do that? Why do other humans treat their own kind differently and hurt then when they do something wrong?" I asked. I was confused by the behaviour of the Haradrim and I was hoping Glorfindel could help me.



Glorfindel sighed. "Estel I told you before you are too young to understand."



"I am not. I wish to know and if I can recite an essay in front of you then I should be able to understand the answer to my question."



"Fine then Estel. I will tell you." Glorfindel said. He sat down next to me and looked at me and said bluntly: "Innocence."



"Innocence?" I asked. "What do you mean?"



"I mean that you have not seen it to understand. Estel you are young and still growing up. There are many evils that seek to destroy you and your kind. It is terrible thing to see death and destruction and I surely hope you do not see that yet. But people are guided by their feelings; some are told that they are not important, some are and people have high hopes for them. Men are weak and like to be in control, and if they cannot be in control of elves or the other races then they will find power in making other people's lives miserable and enjoying in their pain. Estel, you have yet to experience that type of feelings and I hope that no evil touches you while you are here. You are still innocent. You have not been hurt by other people and you have not seen the pain. Innocence is something that every person loses once they've entered the world and left their family. Let's hope it stays that way for you. I do not wish to hurt your innocence by answering your question. If it happens to you, you'll be able to answer the question yourself."



I did not blink throughout this entire talk and I felt tears in my eyes when I did blink. I sat there thinking through what my teacher had told me. He was right; I had not seen the evil in the world like he had. And I hoped I never would.



//End of Flashback//



Estel sat glaring into the water as the memory refused to sink down. /I do not know if I will ever be ready to face the dangers in the world. I do not wish to lose my childhood, but something is telling me otherwise./ he thought.



Estel sat there pondering these things over while staring into the shining water of the fountain.



TBC....



Next Chapter: The Hunting Trip - I hope to update in the next week - it depends on how long it will take me to write this.



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