Preparing and Leaving
Elrond smiled as he entered his room and saw Estel, still clad in his night clothes, playing with El on the floor. The puppy, spotting his mater's father bounded towards Elrond. The elf smiled and knelt down patting the puppy's head.
"Good boy, Estel, why don't you change into some play clothes and I'll show you how to pack your clothes," the elven Lord said smiling. Estel nodded and hurried into the bathroom to get dressed.
Moments later Estel was sitting on his bed watching his father role up his clothes and placing them in a satchel.
"Ada, do I get to ride Snowflake?" Elrond smiled and looked at his son. The pony to replace Tindómë had been a white horse with small spots of brown, Estel had named her Snowflake.
"Well, I suppose, you won't ride her the entire time, but you may bring her along," Elrond said smiling. Estel smiled as he watched his father finish.
"Ada, will I ever get married?" Estel inquired.
"Well, I suppose you will some day child."
"When?"
"I do not know, only the gods know that child."
"Arwen and grandmother say you have the gift of foresight though; doesn't that mean you can see into the future?"
"Well, yes, but I cannot see a future so far ahead child."
"Do you see me as a man?"
"Yes," Elrond stated gently as he grabbed a few more items for his son.
"What do you see!?" Estel asked with excitement. Elrond sighed and knelt down in front of his son, looking the boy in his eyes. Taking his hands he smiled, "ay I would truly love telling you ion nin, but it is not my place to tell you what I see. What do you see?"
"I.........Ada I saw me once, with eight companions, one was Gandalf," he said nervously.
"Aye child, I see that as well," Elrond said.
"What are we doing together Ada, what shall I ever have to do with four half-lings, a dwarf, an elf, a wizard and a human?"
"Well young one, you must wait and found out," Elrond said, knowing what the true reason was, and what it would some day lead to.
"Ada, I saw myself standing before Gandalf, and it was a ceremony, what was that?" Elrond shook his head.
"I know not child, I have never seen that," lied Elrond, "there you are child, all packed, come now, let us go play for awhile, or perhaps you wish to read?"
"Ay, I would love to play a little, would you perhaps tell me a story of when you fought Ada, with men?"
"Ay, I think I may be able to do such a thing, come, let us go to the main room and get comfortable."
The next morning dawned early, Estel had easily fallen asleep the night before with a story from Arwen of when she was a child. The family ate breakfast and were soon preparing to leave in a matter of hours.
"Arwen! Arwen! I brought you a present!" Estel said smiling, he said softly, as he carried a small rabbit in his hands. The delicate thing was sniffing madly as Estel handed Arwen the beautiful white animal.
"Oh, Estel he's beautiful, thank you," she said smiling at him. She didn't have the heart to tell him that such animals belong in the wild.
"Caught him myself, the way Elladan taught me," the child beamed. Smiling, Arwen held the little rabbit close and looked at him. The beat red eyes shone gently.
"Estel, come here child, it's about time to go," called Elrond, wanting to get his son mounted quickly. Estel smiled at Arwen and hurried over to Elrond. Arwen bent down to the ground smiling.
"Thank you for allowing Estel to catch you small one, but you are free to go home to your family now, peace mellon nin," with that she watched the beautiful rabbit bound off and smiled softly.
"Arwen, come Evenstar," Elrond called to his daughter, nodding she made her way towards her horse and easily mounted it.
Soon they were off, the eight companions and their guards. Estel was talking canidly to his Grandmother about things he had done as a child, and adventures his father had taken him on, while Elrond, Glorfindel, Haladir, and Celeborn led the group speaking of stories with one another.
"Grandmother, how long will it take to come to Lothlorien?" Estel asked softly, as the day sun shone upon them all.
"Many days young one, at least three, perhaps four, depending upon how long your Ada decides to ride during the days," explained Galadriel with a soft smile.
"Can you tell me stories?" He asked.
"Ay, I could tell you many stories young one, but do you not wish to take a look around you?"
"Grandmother, what do you see in my future?" The fair blonde elf paused, and looked down.
"I see a great deal child, but there is only so much I am able to tell you."
"Do you see more than Ada?"
"Perhaps, but I cannot tell you this either."
"What can you tell me?" Estel asked slightly defeated.
"Your name means more than being just your name," Galadriel said smiling at him. Estel looked at her with confusion, when Elrond's voice filled his ears.
"Come seldo, I would like you to ride up here with me for awhile, it will be getting dark soon and we must settle," explained the elven lord. Galadriel nodded a small thank you for intervention and soon joined the twins and Arwen in a conversation.
The evening descended up on them, as Elrond, the twins and Glorfindel began to set up camp, Estel had fallen asleep many hours ago and was now resting beside his father in the tent.
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"What are you doing?" Asked a blond elf, nervous as the human weakly lifted up the legging to the elf's right leg, looking at the gash in the leg.
"I put it there, I shall fix it," stated the human.
"You do not know what you are doing!"
"I am only thirteen, but I am full competent in the way of healing, my Ada has taught me."
"Thank you.........for saving my life today," whispered the elf.
"I would be wrong to leave you, and I would wish no one to die in the way of Orcs. I have felt their wrath; this will hurt," Legolas bit his lip as something was pressed to his leg, a few moments later it was numb, and bandaged.
"You truly are experienced, even for such a young human."
"I was raised by elves, I know what I am doing," Legolas nodded.
"Come let us get to my father, he will be able to help your further."