Farflung: Yes, I admit it: I have way too much fun writing these stories.
Lynn: Thank you. I will correct that.
Grumpy: Here is the more you were looking forward to, I hope.
Pallas Analise: Thank you. I'm glad the light elements work for you.
Joee: Yes, Erestor's behavior was a little different from what we have come to expect.
Dragonfly: Oooh! I think you've provided a marketing slogan for an Erestor action figure: 'Not just a librarian!'
Silver badger: If you think that was an unexpected twist, wait until you read see what happens in this chapter.
Bbuttercup: I am sure that in a future story Glorfindel will have it thrown in his face that he was saved by Erestor. It is too much to expect Erestor to pass up such an opportunity.
Karri: Thank you. The cutlet line seems to have gone over rather well.
Melissa: And thank you for your thank you!
Something big and dark swooped through Estel's dream, and then he felt a nibbling at his ear. Gwaurant? The boy opened his eyes.
"Aaaaah!" Estel jerked upright. The enormous eagle took a step back, stretched his wings, and then folded them again.
"Skittish, aren't you?"
"Your pardon, my Lord," said the boy, shamefaced. "I awoke so suddenly. I expected to see my dog."
"Your dog!?"
"Um, well, sometimes he licks my face. I felt something at my ear and thought it was him."
"Ah, I see. No doubt," observed the eagle sardonically, "it is a good thing your dog wakes you in such a fashion, for I judge that to be your preferred—nay, your only!—method of washing your face."
Estel blushed deeply enough for the color to show under the grime.
"I was just in a battle, my Lord, and I was crawling about in the dirt. I am not always this filthy."
"I will have you know that Mithrandir specified that you yourself would not weigh overmuch but that the soil affixed to you would add somewhat to my burden."
"He didn't!"
"You are right. He didn't. But it is very like the sort of thing he does say."
"You must know Gandalf very well," admitted Estel.
"Oh, yes. We go back quite awhile. And now, speaking of 'go back', I am to take you to rejoin your companions, who, you will be happy to know, are all safe. If you like, you may ride between my wings. I am sure you will find perching there more comfortable than dangling from my talons."
"Yes, my Lord. Meaning no disrespect, but your talons are rather sharp."
"No offense taken. Indeed, you compliment me. We eagles pride ourselves upon our rapier-like talons, second only in sharpness to our rapier-wit, if I may be permitted to say so."
Estel thought to himself that an eagle so equipped was to be permitted to say anything he pleased, but he did not voice this thought aloud. Instead, he carefully clambered up onto the eagle's back. Once the eagle was certain that the boy was well-balanced and had a good grip, he spread his wings and soared into the air. Estel enjoyed this second flight much more than he had the first. He was quite comfortable in both mind and body, and he was in fact sorry when the eagle began to slowly spiral downward toward the Elves' encampment. All too soon the flight was over and Estel was standing before the eagle politely thanking him and bidding him farewell. The eagle paused briefly to exchange a few pleasantries with Gandalf and then once more soared into the air.
"How did you find Gwaihir, my lad?" asked Gandalf after the raptor had departed.
"Um, well, he has a cutting wit, Gandalf," said Estel hesitantly.
"Is that so? Well, well, no doubt that accounts for our getting on so well."
Elrond, who stood near, could not forebear laughing.
"Gandalf," he chided the wizard, "beware of hubris!"
"Hubris? What hubris? Any rational estimation of my merits would allow that I have a cutting wit. I am not claiming to be perfect—only practically so."
"Gandalf," growled Glorfindel, who had joined the group in time to hear the last comment, "practically perfect in everything."
"Exactly," said Gandalf. "Practically. I do not claim to be altogether perfect, merely very nearly so."
Glorfindel shook his head.
"You have more self-assurance than I do—and that's saying a lot."
"Excuse me," interrupted Estel. "I haven't had anything to eat in a while. The eagle offered me a cony, but it was raw and I couldn't stomach it."
"Ah," crowed Glorfindel, "now you see that cooking is important, don't you!? You won't complain about skivvy duty ever again, will you?"
"If I answer that I won't, may I have somewhat to eat?"
This answer was greeted with laughter.
"I believe," said Elrond, "that your brothers have set aside a plate for you. You may go to them now."
"Thank you, Ada," exclaimed Estel, and he hurried off to a campfire beside which sat Elladan and Elrohir.
"Estel," called Elrohir as the boy approached, "we hear from Erestor that you did good work with your blade."
"Yes, but I dropped it when the eagle seized me."
"True," said Elladan, "but Erestor saw that and he hunted around the tree until he found it."
"Did he!? How very kind of him. Where is he?"
"Currying your pony," said Elrohir.
"Really!? Erestor is truly a wonder!"
"How so?" asked Elladan. "Currying a pony does not require much strength or wit."
"No, but taking the trouble to tend to another's mount is certainly praiseworthy, is that not so?"
"Estel has become a philosopher," joked Elrohir.
"Very well. You may mock me," retorted Estel, a little irked. "But at least you will allow that Erestor showed himself to be a warrior of great worth. That is something you would have observed, even if you are not capable of noticing anything else."
Elrohir felt himself rebuked, as indeed he had been.
"I am sorry, Estel. You are right. Erestor is not to be scorned. He is just and kindly and brave. He has always done right by me, even if I have not properly acknowledged that fact. I shall try to do better in the future."
"See that you do," said Estel smugly. That, however, was pushing matters too far, and Elrohir felt it necessary to restore some balance to the relationship. Estel found himself tackled and tickled mercilessly. He did not become any cleaner as a result, but at least he now had a partner in grime, as Elrohir was thoroughly dirty himself before he let Estel up.
I should say when he was forced to let Estel up. The venerable personage they had been discussing returned from currying Estel's pony in time to see Elrohir and Estel rolling about in the dust.
"Here, now," he spluttered, "what sort of behavior is this!? For shame, Elrohir! Estel is only a boy, but you are an Elf full-grown! Leave off at once."
"Yes, Erestor," said Elrohir meekly, arising and dusting himself off. "Thank you for correcting my behavior, Erestor."
This was not the sort of reply the tutor was accustomed to receiving from Elrohir, and he stared at the young Elf suspiciously before striding away to join the older Elves. He arrived just in time to hear Elrond chaffing Glorfindel.
"So, my friend," Elrond was saying, "you wanted excitement, and you have got it. I hope you are satisfied."
"Indeed, the trip has exceeded my expectations," replied Glorfindel drily.
"And we are not even to Lórien yet," observed Erestor.
"You do not want to turn back?" asked Elrond hopefully. In spite of his conversation with Gandalf, he would really rather that the company returned to Rivendell.
"No, certainly not!" exclaimed Glorfindel. "After going to the trouble of clearing the pass, it would be a pity not to go forward."
"Oh," said Elrond sardonically, "was that what you were doing—clearing the pass? And here I had thought that you had been ambushed."
Watching this entire exchange with amusement, Gandalf pulled out his pipe.
"Mithrandir!" exclaimed Elrond, Erestor, and Glorfindel in unison, suddenly united in their distaste for that Mannish habit. Gandalf raised his hands in a gesture of defeat.
"Very well! I shall betake myself elsewhere."
With that he picked up his staff, which had been resting against a tree, and strode off, disappearing into the forest.
It was getting on toward dusk by now, and Erestor retreated to his cloth shelter while Elrond made for Glorfindel's, which the balrog-slayer had very kindly given over for the shared use of Elrond and Gandalf. Glorfindel himself would bunk with Erestor for that one night, and Estel, who had been sharing with Erestor, would squeeze in with Elladan and Elrohir. Glorfindel did not retire immediately. He set the watches and walked the bounds for a considerable time. Only then did he betake himself to his bedroll. By then Erestor was asleep. Perhaps that had been Glorfindel's reason for patrolling for such a lengthy time—to spare himself intimate conversation with Erestor, whom he loved but could not abide in close quarters.
There were no disturbances during the night, so Glorfindel was able to enjoy an unbroken rest. Elrond, too, awoke refreshed, surprisingly so, given the fright he had had over the safety of his sons. He lay still for awhile, enjoying the cool air and the morning chorus of birds. At last he rolled over until he faced Gandalf's bedroll. It was empty.
Elrond sat up abruptly and looked about anxiously. He saw no sign that the wizard had ever been in the tent. Elrond threw aside his covering. Leaping from his feet, he ran from the shelter, nearly colliding with Glorfindel.
"Elrond, whatever is the matter!?"
"Glorfindel, when last did you see Mithrandir!?"
"When he went off to have a pipe."
"You never saw him return to the camp?"
"Nay, I did not. He had not come back by the time I turned in."
"The sentries. Did any of the sentries see him return?"
"I shall ask."
Glorfindel hurried off to rouse each of the Elves who had stood watch. When he returned to Elrond, his face was grim.
"None saw him."
At once Elrond and Glorfindel roused the remainder of the camp and set everyone to searching. It was Erestor and Estel—Erestor would not let Estel from his side—who found signs of the wizard. Unharmed, a staff stood leaning against a tree trunk. In the dirt, broken in two, lay a pipe, tobacco spilling from its bowl. Erestor and Estel summoned Glorfindel and Elrond. Glorfindel studied the ground. Something had been dragged away from that place. Glorfindel and Erestor followed the trail through the leaf litter. The trail ran parallel to the mountain ridge, and then, once the Elves' camp had been bypassed, it went upslope. At the tree line, Glorfindel bent down and picked up something. It was a lone buskin. Past the tree line, there was only hard stone to be seen. Glorfindel had lost the trail.
Glorfindel and Elrond stood silent for awhile. Glorfindel at last spoke.
"What shall we do?"
"We are closer to Lórien than to Rivendell. Erestor should lead the company onward and ask Celeborn and Galadriel to send scouts to join us. Thoron came out with me. He is an excellent scout. He should assist us in our search. So too should Elladan and Elrohir."
Glorfindel nodded.
"That will make five searchers at the outset, soon to be joined by those from Lórien."
Elrond did not reply. He stood gazing bleakly toward the summit of the mountain.
"Elrond," Glorfindel said desperately, "he is alive."
"Aye," said Elrond. "But for how long?"