The next morning Anomen made his way to Elrond's chamber shortly after breakfast.
"Enter," said Elrond in response to his knock. "Ah, Anomen, can you not find Estel?"
"I have already escorted Estel to the library. He is with Erestor."
Elrond raised his eyebrows. "Then why are you not at the library yourself?"
"I asked Erestor to give me leave to absent myself so that I might speak to you."
"Very well." Elrond gestured for Anomen to take a seat.
"Ada, I would like to go on patrol."
"What of your responsibilities here?"
"Surely there is someone else who can mind Estel."
"It is not only that. Glorfindel tells me that you are a valuable mentor to the younger Elves, both in terms of your skills and your deportment."
"Glorfindel said that?"
Elrond smiled. "Yes. Has he not told you something similar?"
"No, Ada."
"Some Elves are sparing in their praise. They feel more than they say." Elrond hesitated before going on. "Even parents may be thus sparing in their speech. Many a father has loved his son but never felt comfortable in saying so."
Anomen was not happy with the direction this conversation was taking. It seemed to him that Elrond himself was being sparing in his speech, uttering words that were simple on the surface but that hinted at a deeper meaning.
"I am glad to know that Glorfindel approves of my work with the elflings," he said hastily, "but is it not true that Elladan and Elrohir brought back news that bodes ill for Imladris? Are not Orcs gathering in increasing numbers in the lands surrounding this realm? If so, then would not my skills be put to better use on patrol?"
Elrond gazed levelly at Anomen. "There is some truth in what you say. Very well. Elladan and Elrohir will soon depart on another sortie. You may accompany them."
Anomen floundered for words. If he went on patrol with the twins, he was doomed!
"Uh, um, I had thought to join Thoron's patrol. And, um, if I did," he added, suddenly inspired, "I would thereby be helping with the training of the novice warriors!"
He looked hopefully at Elrond, but the Elf-lord seemed unimpressed. Anomen tried another tack.
"The twins, ah, they are dedicated to their especial mission. I would not wish to distract them with my presence."
Elrond suppressed a smile. "True, but I sometimes fear that they will become too single-minded in their quest for vengeance. If you were with them, I am sure there would be some lighter moments to divert them from the dark thoughts that must trouble their minds as they pursue the tormenters of their mother."
Lighter moments, thought Anomen. Oh, yes, lighter moments for them.
"Ada," he said desperately, "the twins have a close bond. I am sure that they would not wish me to accompany them."
"Oh, but I am sure that they would," said Elrond, who was finding it increasingly difficult to hide his amusement.
Anomen studied Elrond's face. Although the Elf-lord's eyebrows twitched a trifle, Anomen could tell that he was resolute.
"Well, I walked right into that one," muttered the younger Elf.
"Pardon?"
"Ah, I will walk to my room now and prepare for my departure."
"I am glad to hear it," said Elrond serenely.
Anomen made for the door. Just before he reached it, Elrond called after. "Oh, and Anomen."
"Yes, Ada?"
"Your hair has grown back nicely. Do try to keep it on your head."
Anomen sighed. "I will do my best, Ada, but as you know, it is not altogether up to me!" As he spoke, however, an idea dawned upon him, one that would involve bathing, of course.
Anomen hurried to his room and gathered together fresh clothes and other necessaries, including a flask filled with shampoo. Then he hastened to his third-favorite bathing pool. He had decided that, as the twins were back in Rivendell, it would be best if he varied his bathing spots in as unpredictable a fashion as possible. Even so, he looked around carefully before he undressed and stepped into the water. Once settled, he uncapped the flask and carefully sniffed at its contents. He poured some into his hands and stared intently at the concoction. At last, satisfied, he rubbed it into his hair.
A few hours later the Elves of Elrond's household began to assemble for the noon meal. Elrond and Glorfindel were already at the head table. Erestor arrived leading Estel by the hand—once they had left the library Erestor had not loosed his hold on the child for even a minute! Following him were Elladan and Elrohir, who, to Glorfindel's chagrin, had spent the morning on the training fields for old time's sake, with predictable results.
"Where is Anomen?" asked Elrond when all had taken their seats. At that moment, gasps arose from the lower tables. Elrond and the others glanced toward the door. Only Elrond was unsurprised at the sight that met their eyes. In strolled Anomen, the picture of nonchalance—with blue hair! He sauntered up to the table and grinned at the dumbfounded twins.
"Elladan, Elrohir, I have decided to cast in my lot with you—share and share alike, one for all, all for one—that sort of thing."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged baffled glances, but Elrond looked pleased. "Anomen, your words to the Dunlendings bore some truth, for I see before me a fraternity of elite warriors who, in token of their bond, have adopted a most distinctive manner of dressing their hair! I must say, moreover," he added, "that you have chosen a color that goes very well with your eyes."
Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other again and arrived at some sort of unspoken consensus. They burst into laughter.
"Together again, eh, brother?" chortled Elladan.
"Aye, just like old times," laughed Elrohir. "Mae govannen, Anomen."
Feeling left out, Estel began to clamor. "I want to color my hair! I want blue hair, too!"
"Nay," laughed Elrond. "You are not yet a warrior. When you are, you may wear your hair any way you please, but for now I am afraid that such a color would be intolerably distracting to your tutor."
Erestor nodded. "Aye," he muttered. "His language is already too colorful; perish the thought that his hair should be blue as well."
The remainder of the meal Anomen and the twins chatted amiably together. They agreed that there was no reason to delay their sortie. They would pack that night and depart on the morrow.
"Anomen, you will be in charge of bringing the toiletries," said Elrohir teasingly. "Have a care that you select the shampoos carefully."
"As to that," interjected Elrond, "I have been searching my books and have found a recipe for a wash that may remove the colors from your hair."
"Nay, Ada!" Elladan shook his head vigorously. "I wish to remain a member of this 'elite fraternity'."
The other two young Elves echoed him. Their dyed hair had been transformed into a badge of honor.
Glorfindel did not like the direction things were taking. He cleared his throat and spoke loudly so that he could be heard even at the furthest table.
"I hope," he declared, "the no other Elves will adopt this peculiar manner of dressing their hair. I do not wish my novices and warriors to be distracted by concern over whether or not they have chosen the color that best complements their other features. If any Elves should show up for either training or patrol with their hair colored, I shall skin them."
Several Elves had indeed been whispering their plans for makeovers, but Glorfindel's words were enough to discourage them. Everyone knew that he had shaved the heads of Anomen and the twins, and no one doubted that the balrog-slayer would carry through on his threat. Disappointment could be seen on the face of many an Elf.
Disappointment could also be seen on the face of Estel. First Anomen had abandoned him in the library that morning. With Anomen gone, Erestor had devoted all his attention to his human pupil, so Estel had had to work much harder than usual. Now Anomen had lovely colored hair, like Elladan and Elrohir's, but Estel was not going to be allowed to paint his hair. Worst of all, on the morrow, Anomen would be riding off on an adventure with the twins. The Elf wouldn't be back for weeks—maybe even months. Not only would Estel miss out on the adventure, he would have no one to pay attention to him whilst he whiled away the time in Rivendell. Oh, yes, you may be sure that Estel was disgruntled in the extreme.
Elrond no doubt divined Estel's state of mind and anticipated what might arise from it. Before he retired for the night, he warned the door warden to keep a sharp lookout lest Estel try to slip out in the morning.
Well before dawn, Anomen arose and dressed. He bent over Estel, who lay in the truckle bed. (Anomen had laid down a rule that Estel could no longer crawl into his bed unless the child had bathed. Since Estel washed no more often than he could help it, that meant that Anomen was able to enjoy most nights Estel-free.)
"Stay well, little brother."
Estel did not stir. Of course, as Anomen had learned to his sorrow, that did not mean that the child was asleep. He gently shook Estel's shoulder.
"Estel."
Still no movement. Perhaps he really was asleep. Anomen kissed the child's forehead and slipped from the room
Of course, as the reader no doubt expected, Estel sprang from his bed as soon as Anomen had left the room. He hastily pulled on tunic, leggings, and boots and seized the small-size bow with which he trained each day. From underneath his bed he pulled a bag filled with some bread and cheese that he had carried away from the table the previous night. He scurried to the window, climbed over the sill, and grasped hold of the top of the trellis.
Estel was very light, but the trellis had seen much use. Some of the crossbars were cracked, and the entire frame listed. Estel ignored the creaking noises as he clambered down. Ai! On this night the trellis, Anomen's faithful friend, collapsed under the weight, slight as it was, of the human child! Fortunately, Estel was only a few feet from the ground when this happened. He found himself sitting in a bush, framed by pieces of the lattice. Coughing, he untangled himself from the remnants of a trellis that had stood for centuries, nay, millennia. Fortunately, he was only a little scratched and bruised. Ruefully, he surveyed the wrecked frame, wondering if this was a situation that would justify the telling of a creative lie upon his return to Rivendell. No, he decided, Elrond might be vexed, but Estel doubted that the Elf-lord's reaction would be 'life threatening' enough to warrant a fib. At any rate, he would worry about that later. For now he needed to catch up with Anomen, who had been heading for the stables. Seizing his bow and hoisting his bag over his shoulder, the little human trotted off into the pre-dawn darkness.