Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to the ever amazing J.R.R Tolkien.
A/N: Hey, sorry it's been so long since my last update. Life has been hectic and chaotic but I am back and continuing this series of ficlets. I hope I still have readers and that you'll enjoy this chapter.
SIX
I am smiling because you are my brother
I am laughing because there is nothing you can do about it
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"Estel, what does Adar tell us about eavesdropping?" Estel heard his brother perfectly loud and clear but he was far to enchanted and mesmerised by the scene playing out in front of him to pay attention. There were plenty of times when dwarves had been mentioned in the fairy tales and stories which was told to him before bedtimes, but this was the first time had every actually laid his eyes on a real life dwarf. There were even twelve of them and not one of them looked the same or at all like he had imagined them. Then there was another person whom he had not heard of before in the stories – he wasn't tall enough to be a dwarf and his feet were much too hairy. He was dressed to properly and nor did he looked anything like the wizard, an actual wizard that was in their company too.
"Estel." Elrohir's voice was much sterner now as he knew his brother was deliberately ignoring him. He could understand that this was all very exciting in the eyes of a child but there was a reason to why Estel was not meant to hear this conversation. Then there was the fact that Estel was in the middle of somewhat of a rebellious face, as most children were around the age of ten. The only person he would ever really listen to was Lord Elrond and both Elladan and Elrohir had to struggle to get his attention. As much as Elrohir loved his little brother, it did annoy him to some extent because he wanted the same attention and respect as Estel gave their father.
"Who are they 'Ro? I know they are dwarves but, who is the other one? The small one?"
Sighing, Elrohir walked up to his brother and knelt down beside him. Thorin Oakenshield's company had only recently arrived in Rivendell and were having a conversation with Elrond regarding the aim of their quest. Elrohir had to admit, the fact that they had managed to get this far in the quest to return to Erebor was rather impressive. Even though they'd also drawn orcs far closer to the borders of the hidden valley than they would normally like.
"That is Master Bilbo Baggins. He's a hobbit from a land called the Shire and his hometown is called Hobbiton." said Elrohir. He couldn't deny it, it was somewhat exciting having a Halfling in Imladris. Dwarves he'd come across on many occasions but this was the first time he had ever met a hobbit and Bilbo Baggins was a most peculiar one. From what he knew of hobbits, they were fond of their homelands and disliked adventure and travelling unless it included a trip to the nearest tavern for a pint of the ale for which they were so famous. Yet Bilbo had strayed far from his home and possessed courage perhaps even greater than that amongst the elves, perhaps even the wizard in his company.
"I heard them talking about a dragon. They mean Smaug don't they? Is he really real? I thought he was just a story." asked Estel and Elrohir could tell he was a little bit frightened. The elven prince guessed that somewhere deep down, Estel already knew it was all true. He had always possessed a great sense of intuition. Elrohir scratched back of his head and cursed under his breath, knowing their father would probably give him a lecture for telling Estel the truth but he would find out sooner or later anyway.
"Yes Estel, it is true." replied Elrohir "Thorin and his company are on their way to the mountain of Erebor to reclaim their homeland from which Smaug cast them out all those years ago. They have stopped here to ask Adar for help to read a map only he can decipher."
"Smaug is alive? In the mountain?"
Elrohir nodded. "Aye, he is fast asleep. That is why Master Baggins is with them. They need someone to enter the mountain whom is quiet enough to not wake Smaug. Bilbo is a very brave hobbit indeed."
As exciting as stories of dragons were, Estel felt scared because if they were real that meant the power they possessed and the fire was real too.
"What happens if they wake the dragon 'Ro? Will he come here? To Imladris?" he asked
"No Estel. There is naught you have to fear. We are very safe under the protection of Adar's magic. Smaug will never come here. You are safe." Although Elrohir knew incredibly well that if they did wake Smaug, there was no telling of what could happened and even he shivered at thought but kept a solemn face for the sake of his brother. "Now, how would you like to meet our guests?"
Estel's eyes widened with excitement and it was as though the child forgot all fear within him. "Can I really?"
"Aye, after all, it will not be you who gets a lecture from Adar later."
To be continued…..
How'd you like it? It's never actually written but it is speculated that Estel was around the age of ten when Thorin and his company reached Rivendell and we don't actually know if they ever met Estel so I figured it would be fun to write something about that. Please leave a review.