Ambush – Capturing Estel
She stood from her kneeling position by the bed and looked into her daughter's eyes. Slowly she shook her head.
'There's nothing more I can do for him, Eyomn., I've got none of my herbs, none of my instruments. We'll just keep him warm. I think maybe I should tell that Elf Lord that I've got one of his kind. Perhaps he'll let us stay here reward.' She tried to force a smile. Eyomn's eyes were filling with tears. She reached for her mother and buried her face into her chest.
'Why does everything have to die? First Daddy, then the others, and now the elf man. Why, Mum, why?'
'I don't know, darling. If I did, I would be a very wise woman. There must be some goodness left in the world somewhere. I just don't know where. Come now, no more tears. Why don't you see if you can catch some fish for our dinner? I saw some wild potatoes as well. How does fish and chips sound?'
Eyomn nodded, wiping her eyes on her sleeve, and turned to get her fishing line. But then she suddenly gasped for standing in the mouth of the cave was another stranger. Now she hastily reached for her bow, and swiftly strung an arrow. The figure attempted to raise his hands but one arm remained limp at his side.
'It's okay! I've captured one of them!' It was Joel and his bow was also strung.
'Joel, I've told you before to be careful with that bow! You'll hurt someone with it one of these days.'
'He has hurt someone I'm afraid.' The stranger's voice was deep melodic with a faint foreign sounding undertone, but he nonetheless seemed very apologetic about the whole business. As he approached, she could see that he was dressed in a similar manner to the other elf. But looking again, she could see that this one had a beard and shorter hair. It was a Man, and Joel had shot him in the arm…
'I'm so sorry…Joel, what did you think you were doing?' She rushed towards the man, leading him to a rock to sit on.
'It's not the boy's fault,' the man said quickly. 'I was tracking and came upon him unawares. It was a good shot, mind you,' he added reassuringly in Joel's direction.
'Good shot? He could have killed you! Honestly, you men. Here, let me look at that arm.' A quick inspection showed that the arrow had not gone in too deep and the wound was clean.
'Eyomn, put down your bow and fetch me the marigold infusion, if there's any left, and some rags.'
The girl, never taking her eyes off the intruder, lowered her bow and went to do her mother's bidding. She returned within a few minutes carrying the required items.
'There's no bandages left Mum. We used the last of it before we got here.'
The man was looking around the cave with interest.
'How long have you been here? I thought you'd have gone to the hall. Lord Elrond always welcomes visitors.'
'Visitors he might indeed welcome, but not us. We have nothing, and we won't take charity from some high and mighty elf lord. Now hold still.'
She deftly slit the sleeve of the tunic to expose the wound, then grasped his arm above the arrow head to swiftly pull it from his flesh. He never even winced.
'They certainly make you tough down here,' she said, unable to help an edge of admiration creeping into her tone. 'Most men normally moan, groan, complain and swear when an arrow is pulled from them.'
'I didn't feel a thing.'
She washed the wound with the infusion, and then blushing with embarrassment tore a strip from her underskirt to bind the wound.
'That isn't the first time you've had to deal with such a wound is it?' asked the stranger, testing the tightness.
'No, my children and I have seen many such wounds recently.' She paused, 'I'm sorry I lost my temper a bit there. My name is Eoela, this is Eyomn my daughter, and the fierce little one behind you is Joel.'
The stranger smiled, 'I'm called Estel. Thank you for tending my wound. Why are you hiding here?'
'Here's as good as place as any. We've got no where else to go.'
At that moment a cry came from the back of the cave.
'Celebrían?' It was followed a gasp as if of great pain.
'Oh no, he's trying to get up. I'm sorry Estel, I've another patient.'
Estel had seen the figure lying at the back of the cave and assumed that it was the woman's husband, but somehow the voice sounded familiar.
'Is your husband badly injured? Lord Elrond is a very experience healer,' he asked.
'It is not my husband,' she replied coolly. 'The children found him earlier, he'd been washed up from the river. He's an elf.'
'Celebrían, ias agoick?'[*]
Estel did recognise the voice, 'Adar! Elladan, Elrohir, tula sinome![†]'
Suddenly the cave was full of people- full of elves! She rose defensively, drawing her knife. She didn't know who all these people were, but they were not going to evict her and her children. She'd fight them all if she needed to. She saw with pride that both of the children had backed into the cave and taken up positions on either side. They had the intruders covered with their bows. If the worst happened two of them would at least be hurt.
The man Estel held up his hand,
'Easy, Eoela, we don't mean you or your family any harm. We've been out searching for our father since first light. He went missing last night, he was ambushed and captured by some orcs.'
She nodded, they had met orcs while they were fleeing. Foul creatures, all they wanted to do was destroy anything they couldn't steal.
'We tracked them and father to the cliff above the river, and father fell over the cliff. He would have been washed down to here. I think the elf you've found is our father.'
'How can an elf be your father?' she demanded warily. 'You're human, like us.'
'It's a very long story, but my brothers and I would very much like to find Father. Surely if we can help your patient…'
'Fine, fine, you can explain it all later. He's been shot with an arrow. The arrow is still in him and I don't have the instruments or herbs to do anything. Even if it's not your father will you help him?'
He nodded at once.
'Of course, Lord Elrond's house is always open to anyone that needs help.'
She lowered her knife and nodded to the children to do the same with their bows.
One of the elves stepped forward, raising his hand to his chest and slightly bowing.
'Mae govannen brennilîn[‡]. You and your children have the hearts of lions. I am called Elladan. May I enter your cave?'
Immediately she was stuck by the similarity in build and looks between this elf and her elf. But there didn't look to be much age difference. Maybe they were brothers or something.
'Please come in. I'm- I'm sorry to jump on you all like that. We've had a hard time recently and it's made us a bit edgy around strangers.'
'A stranger is merely a friend you haven't met yet,' said another elf as he stepped forwards. 'I am Elrohir, also brother to Estel and Elladan.'
Yes, they were brothers, she could see that immediately. But how in the world did they have themselves a human sibling as well?
'Glorfindel, send runners back to the hall for a litter, we've found Father.' said Estel from the rear of the cave.
[*] Celebrían, where are you?
[†] Father! Elladan, Elrohir, come here.
[‡] Well met, my lady
