"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that
something else is more important than fear."
- Ambrose Redmoon
***
Estel got to his feet immediately, any thought of sleep forgotten. It took him only moments to find the being that emitted the startling sound: Bilbo. A quick glance at what made the poor Hobbit yell caused the child to stumble and gasp.
"Goblins!" He tried to yell, but no voice came out of his throat. He saw the Dwarves struggling with six goblins each and Bilbo himself had two. He felt himself being tugged and realized a single goblin was trying to drag him. The goblin underestimated the capacity of a small child to escape his guard. Estel dully knew this was the moment to act, the moment where he would have a chance to prove his worthiness to his party. As he was dragged towards the hole his hand edged towards his stash of arrows, hidden at his back in all times. He reached for his bow at his side and while the beast was busy he knocked an arrow in and pulled the string back and-
Nothing.
Estel froze, arrow pointed at the goblin's face, quivering. The creature laughed and roughly brushed the arrow aside, and smacked the boy across the face harshly. He was about to drag the boy by his long mane when there was a terrible flash of lightening followed by a smell of gunpowder. Different hands grabbed Estel and he saw scattered on the ground dead goblins. The hands quickly pulled him through a crack in the wall that was closing quickly and they went through in the nick on time. He was thrown to the ground, with the weight of the hiding person above him, shielding him while suffocating him.
"Stay close to the ground!" A familiar voice hissed in his ear and he need not look up to know whom his savior was- Gandalf.
"Where are the others?" Estel asked shivering, but not from the cold.
"They've been captured. Come! We mustn't waste time staying here, we must rescue them!" Gandalf said quietly, pulling Estel up to his feet. Gandalf was about to follow the goblins when Estel stopped him, tugging on his robes.
"What is it, child? Speak, we haven't the time!" Gandalf said exasperated.
"I-I failed you," the boy said with self-reproach, disgusted with his behavior.
"I don't see how you had enough time to do so," Gandalf said with a kind smile, but his voice conveyed the urgency he felt.
"I was attacked by only one of those foul things," Estel explained slowly, making sure the wizard would follow his train of thought. "It turned its back on me, giving me enough time to remove an arrow and aim with my bow, which I did. I aimed right between those horrid eyes, b-but I…." He licked his cut lips from the blow of the goblin. "I couldn't do it." He hung his head in shame, expecting the other to anger. But Gandalf felt no such emotion towards the kind and heartfelt child.
"I wish to speak with you very much, young one. But if we stand here any longer we will lose sight of our friends." Gandalf explained, and pulled the child along.
"Who are these miserable persons?" the heard the great goblin saying. They paid no heed to the conversation, knowing time was pressing. Gandalf sat crouching on the floor, working spells of great magic and fire. He gave quiet orders to Estel, who preformed them to the letter. While they worked in dead silence, Gandalf felt this to be the most fitting time to address the issue Estel brought up.
"Nobody expected you to fight off goblins," he said quietly, angry with himself for the state the boy was in. He was HIS responsibility, how could he allow him to be handled by goblins and on a dangerous quest?
"Then what good am I to you?" Estel asked, still fingering his stick of fire, which Gandalf told him to tie. "The Dwarves are on a quest, the Hobbit is a burglar you are a wizard- how am I to contribute?" His eyes seemed crushed. "I hoped to prove myself in battle, but my courage failed me."
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Gandalf lectured. "We are all afraid at one point in our lives or another. It is in overcoming that fear that threatens to cripple us. But you are still young, you will have many chances to overcome it."
"How do you overcome it?" Estel asked nervously, feeling his heart in the pit of his stomach.
"You need to realize that death is a natural part of life, something you might not have thought of growing up in Rivendell." Gandalf said, putting together his magic. "Once you've realized its folly fearing something that will happen sooner or later, you ask yourself this: Does your purpose outweigh the danger and risk of death? Are your friends worth risking your life for?"
"I understand," Estel said solemnly. "And I shan't fail you again!"
"You could never do so, while still being true to your nature," Gandalf said kindly, embracing the child. "I fear you are growing up too fast for my liking."
"I wish I would grow UP height-wise," Estel complained. "I fear I will be dwarves' height till the end of time!"
"Dwarves are respectable folks, you don't see them complaining!" Gandalf smiled. "Besides, I have a feeling you will live to tower over me someday. Come, we must save our friends now, the time for pleasantries is over."
In a moment the lights in the cavern went off and the great fire went off into a tower of blue glowing smoke, scattering-piercing white sparks all among the goblins. Noises beyond description soon followed and the goblins were rolling on the floor biting and kicking and fighting. A sword flashed in its own light and pierced the Great Goblin and he fell dead. Estel clinged to Gandalf as close as possible, afraid of losing him in the dim light.
"Follow me quick!" Gandalf's fierce voice commanded as they followed him in a line. "Quicker, quicker! The torches will soon be relit." Estel found it difficult to keep up with the wizard's long strides and slowly fell behind, almost as far back as Bilbo.
"Half a minute!" Called Dori, who picked the Hobbit up and resolved to carrying him on his shoulders, as they ran down the halls, the clink-clink of the chains the only sound they heard.
After what seemed like forever they finally stopped and Gandalf lit up his wand, cut the chains that bound them and returned Thorin's sword to him.
"Are we all here?" He asked. "Let me see: one-that's Thorin; two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven; where are Fili and Kili? Here they are, twelve, thirteen- and here's Mr. Baggins: fourteen! Estel? Oh I see you now, don't stay so far behind next time: fifteen! Well, well! It might be worse, and then again it might be a good deal better. No ponies, and no food, and no knowing quite
where we are, and hordes of angry goblins just behind! On we go!" And on they went and Gandalf was indeed right: They heard goblins' shrieks and cries coming just from the passages they evacuated, growing closer and closer still. The Dwarves took turns in carrying poor Bilbo on their backs, as he couldn't move fast enough. Estel himself was half dragged, half carried by Gandalf, who was afraid of letting the youth out of his sight.
"Why, O why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole!" They heard Bilbo complaining as he bumped up and down on Bombur's back.
"Why, O why did I ever bring a wretched little hobbit on a treasure hunt!" Said Bombur in return, sweat dripping down his forehead in heat and fear. Now Gandalf and Thorin fell behind and Gandalf pushed Estel ahead of him for the first time. They turned a sharp turner and heard Gandalf crying: "About turn! Draw your sword, Thorin!" As the goblins came scurrying around the corner they found Goblin-Cleaver and Foe-Hammer shining bright and angry, killing the first row of goblins. Estel watched the sight and heard the blood curling yells of the creatures as they were slain and he made up his mind. He took a deep breath and reached for his bow and arrow, knowing it was now or never. He gathered what courage he could and concentrated on the first goblin within range, relying on the glowing swords for light. He knocked an arrow in and pulled the string back, holding his breath, his heart beating in his ears. He felt sweat trickling down his forehead and brushed it with his shoulder.
"The safety of my friends is more important than mine, the safety of my friends is more important than my life…." Was his mantra as his hand quivered in place. The goblin sneered at him and lunged forward, managing to escape both Thorin and Gandalf's swords' wrath. The startled Estel quickly let go of the arrow, causing it to shoot out and pierce the goblin's flesh. The creature's eyes widened as he looked at his killer with shocked, but already blank eyes. Estel was good in archery and he hit the goblin in the heart. He looked dumbfounded at the dark blood slowly gathering under the creature of the night, mystified.
He did it. He shot a goblin. He took a life. He should have been proud, but instead he felt sick to his stomach and vomited in the corner. He had little to no time to recover as he was yanked off his feet by Gandalf, who knew he was in no state to walk, and was carried the rest of the way. What none of them knew was that the goblins were clever and put out their torches, slipped on soft shoes and sent out their quickest runners with the sharpest ears and eyes, who followed the faint light from Gandalf's wand. And so the Dwarves, led by Gandalf hurried down the dark tunnels of the goblin's realm. They heard a shout and THUD from behind and soon they heard and felt goblins biting and clawing in the dark. Gandalf and Thorin thrashed about with their swords, nearly missing several party members' heads (including Dori and Estel's) when a sudden blinding flash sent the goblin yelping back.
"Follow me everybody!" Gandalf yelled. They were in great hurry and with no time to count. Estel was nearly trampled over but he kept close to Gandalf, holding onto his arm or robes, not daring to let go and be lost in the tunnels. They finally dashed through the gate-guards, out of the lower door and were out of there! They wondered out of the little high valley, over its edge, and down the slopes beyond. They went on a stony path winding downwards; with a rocky wall on the left hand. On the other side the ground sloped away and there were dells below the level of the path overhung with buses and low trees. They found a dell under the bushes and rested there. Estel was weary both physically and mentally.
"Are you alright?" Gloin asked him concerned. During the short time Estel was part of the group, Gloin felt that the youth was in need of his protection and decided to look out for him. Whether or not it had something to do with the fact Gloin was a father himself I could not tell. "Your wound needs mending." He continued and examined the bleeding cut on his face.
"Not as much as the wound in my heart doth," Estel replied, as Gloin tore a piece of his fabric, wet it in the river and washed the boy's cut. Estel smiled at him kindly, but the smile did not reach his cold eyes.
"It does not seem deep, it shall heal well," Gloin said calmly, though he was not a healer. Gandalf came over and checked the wound, nodding his agreement.
"Yes, you will survive this ordeal quite well, young master Estel. And how is the goblin-slayer feeling?" There was a pride gleam in his eyes.
"Why is it that I am feeling ill?" Estel asked confused. "They are foul creatures, the enemy. Yet…"
"Even theirs is a life wasted," Gandalf said gently. "You are growing up, my child. You are getting rid of your childhood notions of fighting and war, and learning how it truly is."
"I don't care much for it," Estel admitted reproached. "I wish they were no wars! Why must people fight and kill each other? Why can we not gather together and live in peace?"
"You cannot live with goblins, if you want to wake up in the morning! They will stab you in the back the first chance they get!" Thorin pouted angrily from his place.
"No one is born evil," Estel argued naively, reminding them he was yet a child.
"Shows how much you know, young one," Thorin said conceitedly. "THEY are."
"Come now, let us not argue over opinions, once you have them they are hard to change," Gandalf said mediating. "We have much to do and less time to do it in!"
"Wait, there is something amiss," Estel said thoughtfully. "Has anyone else noticed it is dreadfully quiet here?" It took them but a moment to realize what it was that was missing, or should I say WHO was missing.
"WHERE'S BILBO!" They cried as one, and began searching around for him.
-END PART 4-
I have to admit I was disappointed I only got only 2 review (please don't review the same chapter more than once, it just depresses me and I'll just erase all your reviews. If someone has something to say to me they can email me.) considering it was twice as long and as good in my opinion (and I rarely like stuff I write) as the first two. But I decided to write this one with a warning:
I love this series, but not getting any reviews gets me down, so unless I get three reviews at least (NOT from the same person) I will put this story on the back burner and move on until I see I get more reviews. Not such a big request considering chapter 2 got about 7 reviews and chapter one got 4. So hope people are reading and reviewing, I need honest and constructive feedback to motivate me. I don't blame people for not seeing this story; I mean a day after putting this story up it was bumped to page 8. Plus there are far too many 'Mary Sue pops into Middle Earth and meets Legolas' stories, and Legolas/Aragorn stories, so some good stories are passed over. This very well might be one of those, but I hope I'm wrong.
Ivy
- Ambrose Redmoon
***
Estel got to his feet immediately, any thought of sleep forgotten. It took him only moments to find the being that emitted the startling sound: Bilbo. A quick glance at what made the poor Hobbit yell caused the child to stumble and gasp.
"Goblins!" He tried to yell, but no voice came out of his throat. He saw the Dwarves struggling with six goblins each and Bilbo himself had two. He felt himself being tugged and realized a single goblin was trying to drag him. The goblin underestimated the capacity of a small child to escape his guard. Estel dully knew this was the moment to act, the moment where he would have a chance to prove his worthiness to his party. As he was dragged towards the hole his hand edged towards his stash of arrows, hidden at his back in all times. He reached for his bow at his side and while the beast was busy he knocked an arrow in and pulled the string back and-
Nothing.
Estel froze, arrow pointed at the goblin's face, quivering. The creature laughed and roughly brushed the arrow aside, and smacked the boy across the face harshly. He was about to drag the boy by his long mane when there was a terrible flash of lightening followed by a smell of gunpowder. Different hands grabbed Estel and he saw scattered on the ground dead goblins. The hands quickly pulled him through a crack in the wall that was closing quickly and they went through in the nick on time. He was thrown to the ground, with the weight of the hiding person above him, shielding him while suffocating him.
"Stay close to the ground!" A familiar voice hissed in his ear and he need not look up to know whom his savior was- Gandalf.
"Where are the others?" Estel asked shivering, but not from the cold.
"They've been captured. Come! We mustn't waste time staying here, we must rescue them!" Gandalf said quietly, pulling Estel up to his feet. Gandalf was about to follow the goblins when Estel stopped him, tugging on his robes.
"What is it, child? Speak, we haven't the time!" Gandalf said exasperated.
"I-I failed you," the boy said with self-reproach, disgusted with his behavior.
"I don't see how you had enough time to do so," Gandalf said with a kind smile, but his voice conveyed the urgency he felt.
"I was attacked by only one of those foul things," Estel explained slowly, making sure the wizard would follow his train of thought. "It turned its back on me, giving me enough time to remove an arrow and aim with my bow, which I did. I aimed right between those horrid eyes, b-but I…." He licked his cut lips from the blow of the goblin. "I couldn't do it." He hung his head in shame, expecting the other to anger. But Gandalf felt no such emotion towards the kind and heartfelt child.
"I wish to speak with you very much, young one. But if we stand here any longer we will lose sight of our friends." Gandalf explained, and pulled the child along.
"Who are these miserable persons?" the heard the great goblin saying. They paid no heed to the conversation, knowing time was pressing. Gandalf sat crouching on the floor, working spells of great magic and fire. He gave quiet orders to Estel, who preformed them to the letter. While they worked in dead silence, Gandalf felt this to be the most fitting time to address the issue Estel brought up.
"Nobody expected you to fight off goblins," he said quietly, angry with himself for the state the boy was in. He was HIS responsibility, how could he allow him to be handled by goblins and on a dangerous quest?
"Then what good am I to you?" Estel asked, still fingering his stick of fire, which Gandalf told him to tie. "The Dwarves are on a quest, the Hobbit is a burglar you are a wizard- how am I to contribute?" His eyes seemed crushed. "I hoped to prove myself in battle, but my courage failed me."
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Gandalf lectured. "We are all afraid at one point in our lives or another. It is in overcoming that fear that threatens to cripple us. But you are still young, you will have many chances to overcome it."
"How do you overcome it?" Estel asked nervously, feeling his heart in the pit of his stomach.
"You need to realize that death is a natural part of life, something you might not have thought of growing up in Rivendell." Gandalf said, putting together his magic. "Once you've realized its folly fearing something that will happen sooner or later, you ask yourself this: Does your purpose outweigh the danger and risk of death? Are your friends worth risking your life for?"
"I understand," Estel said solemnly. "And I shan't fail you again!"
"You could never do so, while still being true to your nature," Gandalf said kindly, embracing the child. "I fear you are growing up too fast for my liking."
"I wish I would grow UP height-wise," Estel complained. "I fear I will be dwarves' height till the end of time!"
"Dwarves are respectable folks, you don't see them complaining!" Gandalf smiled. "Besides, I have a feeling you will live to tower over me someday. Come, we must save our friends now, the time for pleasantries is over."
In a moment the lights in the cavern went off and the great fire went off into a tower of blue glowing smoke, scattering-piercing white sparks all among the goblins. Noises beyond description soon followed and the goblins were rolling on the floor biting and kicking and fighting. A sword flashed in its own light and pierced the Great Goblin and he fell dead. Estel clinged to Gandalf as close as possible, afraid of losing him in the dim light.
"Follow me quick!" Gandalf's fierce voice commanded as they followed him in a line. "Quicker, quicker! The torches will soon be relit." Estel found it difficult to keep up with the wizard's long strides and slowly fell behind, almost as far back as Bilbo.
"Half a minute!" Called Dori, who picked the Hobbit up and resolved to carrying him on his shoulders, as they ran down the halls, the clink-clink of the chains the only sound they heard.
After what seemed like forever they finally stopped and Gandalf lit up his wand, cut the chains that bound them and returned Thorin's sword to him.
"Are we all here?" He asked. "Let me see: one-that's Thorin; two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven; where are Fili and Kili? Here they are, twelve, thirteen- and here's Mr. Baggins: fourteen! Estel? Oh I see you now, don't stay so far behind next time: fifteen! Well, well! It might be worse, and then again it might be a good deal better. No ponies, and no food, and no knowing quite
where we are, and hordes of angry goblins just behind! On we go!" And on they went and Gandalf was indeed right: They heard goblins' shrieks and cries coming just from the passages they evacuated, growing closer and closer still. The Dwarves took turns in carrying poor Bilbo on their backs, as he couldn't move fast enough. Estel himself was half dragged, half carried by Gandalf, who was afraid of letting the youth out of his sight.
"Why, O why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole!" They heard Bilbo complaining as he bumped up and down on Bombur's back.
"Why, O why did I ever bring a wretched little hobbit on a treasure hunt!" Said Bombur in return, sweat dripping down his forehead in heat and fear. Now Gandalf and Thorin fell behind and Gandalf pushed Estel ahead of him for the first time. They turned a sharp turner and heard Gandalf crying: "About turn! Draw your sword, Thorin!" As the goblins came scurrying around the corner they found Goblin-Cleaver and Foe-Hammer shining bright and angry, killing the first row of goblins. Estel watched the sight and heard the blood curling yells of the creatures as they were slain and he made up his mind. He took a deep breath and reached for his bow and arrow, knowing it was now or never. He gathered what courage he could and concentrated on the first goblin within range, relying on the glowing swords for light. He knocked an arrow in and pulled the string back, holding his breath, his heart beating in his ears. He felt sweat trickling down his forehead and brushed it with his shoulder.
"The safety of my friends is more important than mine, the safety of my friends is more important than my life…." Was his mantra as his hand quivered in place. The goblin sneered at him and lunged forward, managing to escape both Thorin and Gandalf's swords' wrath. The startled Estel quickly let go of the arrow, causing it to shoot out and pierce the goblin's flesh. The creature's eyes widened as he looked at his killer with shocked, but already blank eyes. Estel was good in archery and he hit the goblin in the heart. He looked dumbfounded at the dark blood slowly gathering under the creature of the night, mystified.
He did it. He shot a goblin. He took a life. He should have been proud, but instead he felt sick to his stomach and vomited in the corner. He had little to no time to recover as he was yanked off his feet by Gandalf, who knew he was in no state to walk, and was carried the rest of the way. What none of them knew was that the goblins were clever and put out their torches, slipped on soft shoes and sent out their quickest runners with the sharpest ears and eyes, who followed the faint light from Gandalf's wand. And so the Dwarves, led by Gandalf hurried down the dark tunnels of the goblin's realm. They heard a shout and THUD from behind and soon they heard and felt goblins biting and clawing in the dark. Gandalf and Thorin thrashed about with their swords, nearly missing several party members' heads (including Dori and Estel's) when a sudden blinding flash sent the goblin yelping back.
"Follow me everybody!" Gandalf yelled. They were in great hurry and with no time to count. Estel was nearly trampled over but he kept close to Gandalf, holding onto his arm or robes, not daring to let go and be lost in the tunnels. They finally dashed through the gate-guards, out of the lower door and were out of there! They wondered out of the little high valley, over its edge, and down the slopes beyond. They went on a stony path winding downwards; with a rocky wall on the left hand. On the other side the ground sloped away and there were dells below the level of the path overhung with buses and low trees. They found a dell under the bushes and rested there. Estel was weary both physically and mentally.
"Are you alright?" Gloin asked him concerned. During the short time Estel was part of the group, Gloin felt that the youth was in need of his protection and decided to look out for him. Whether or not it had something to do with the fact Gloin was a father himself I could not tell. "Your wound needs mending." He continued and examined the bleeding cut on his face.
"Not as much as the wound in my heart doth," Estel replied, as Gloin tore a piece of his fabric, wet it in the river and washed the boy's cut. Estel smiled at him kindly, but the smile did not reach his cold eyes.
"It does not seem deep, it shall heal well," Gloin said calmly, though he was not a healer. Gandalf came over and checked the wound, nodding his agreement.
"Yes, you will survive this ordeal quite well, young master Estel. And how is the goblin-slayer feeling?" There was a pride gleam in his eyes.
"Why is it that I am feeling ill?" Estel asked confused. "They are foul creatures, the enemy. Yet…"
"Even theirs is a life wasted," Gandalf said gently. "You are growing up, my child. You are getting rid of your childhood notions of fighting and war, and learning how it truly is."
"I don't care much for it," Estel admitted reproached. "I wish they were no wars! Why must people fight and kill each other? Why can we not gather together and live in peace?"
"You cannot live with goblins, if you want to wake up in the morning! They will stab you in the back the first chance they get!" Thorin pouted angrily from his place.
"No one is born evil," Estel argued naively, reminding them he was yet a child.
"Shows how much you know, young one," Thorin said conceitedly. "THEY are."
"Come now, let us not argue over opinions, once you have them they are hard to change," Gandalf said mediating. "We have much to do and less time to do it in!"
"Wait, there is something amiss," Estel said thoughtfully. "Has anyone else noticed it is dreadfully quiet here?" It took them but a moment to realize what it was that was missing, or should I say WHO was missing.
"WHERE'S BILBO!" They cried as one, and began searching around for him.
-END PART 4-
I have to admit I was disappointed I only got only 2 review (please don't review the same chapter more than once, it just depresses me and I'll just erase all your reviews. If someone has something to say to me they can email me.) considering it was twice as long and as good in my opinion (and I rarely like stuff I write) as the first two. But I decided to write this one with a warning:
I love this series, but not getting any reviews gets me down, so unless I get three reviews at least (NOT from the same person) I will put this story on the back burner and move on until I see I get more reviews. Not such a big request considering chapter 2 got about 7 reviews and chapter one got 4. So hope people are reading and reviewing, I need honest and constructive feedback to motivate me. I don't blame people for not seeing this story; I mean a day after putting this story up it was bumped to page 8. Plus there are far too many 'Mary Sue pops into Middle Earth and meets Legolas' stories, and Legolas/Aragorn stories, so some good stories are passed over. This very well might be one of those, but I hope I'm wrong.
Ivy
