I neither created nor own Middle Earth, The Hidden Valley, Silvan elves, Noldo elves, Steward Erestor, Lord Elrond, his brother Elros, Lord Glorfindel the Balrog Slayer, or Estel. I did create Mellolaes the Nurse.

This story is for entertainment purposes only so please read and be entertained.

"Estel. Why do you stare at your plate?"

Mellolaes' head snapped around. She gripped her skirt under the table. Erestor did not look away from their charge. His brow remained furrowed as he studied Estel who still studied his meal.

The boy's chin rested in his hands as his elbows sat on his knees. Large, grey eyes rose to meet Erestor's. His bottom lip protruded. "I'm not hungry anymore."

The ellon opened his mouth, but words burst from Mellolaes' lips first. "I fear this is my doing, Steward Erestor."

The Noldo looked away from his lord's son. His brows rose as his gaze met the nurse's. "You're doing, Merilvidian? Will you please, explain."

The elleth smiled nervously. "We've been playing outside. And the lawns, meadows, and woods here offer so much wild fare fit for humans."

Erestor's eyes widened and voice lowered. "You have been teaching my lord's son to 'forage'?"

Mellolaes blinked. "Well … My people simply think of it as … eating. His stomach truly is growing uncomfortable. Perhaps we can feed what is left on his plate to the horses or a rabbit?"

Glorfindel strode around the corner. Estel sat up and grinned. Then he looked to Erestor. The Steward nodded, "You may go to Glorfindel and tell him of your day as you accompany him to his rooms."

Estel leapt down from his chair. "Thank you! Good meal, Erestor!"

Both the ellon's brows rose. The boy noticed not the expression on the steward's face. He was too busy racing for The Balrog Slayer.

The Lord of the Golden Flower went down on one knee to greet his small friend.

The child threw himself upon the grinning elf. Once they'd embraced and exchanged greetings, Glorfindel rose and took the boy's hand. Estel launched into a series of "Know whats," and "Guess what Melly and I did today"s. Still smiling, the ellon asked "what" while leading his friend into the house.

Both steward and nurse watched the soldier and boy disappear. Mellolaes then turned and smiled upon the Noldo. "Estel is one of the most polite children I've ever watched and cared for."

Erestor turned back his gaze to meet hers again. "I would imagine so. However, Merilvidian, I must say your teaching so young a mortal as Estel to forage is concerning."

Mellolaes straightened in her seat. "Indeed, Steward Erestor? Why ever so?"

"At best, his nutrition levels will be thrown off. We desire to keep him in peak health through their careful balancing. At worse, he could grow overconfident of his skills in telling the wholesome from the poisonous. He might eat something from the latter category when you are not with him."

Mellolaes crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. "I have already warned Estel about foraging without me. Indeed, I have 'desired' to further his education on poisonous plants to prevent such an event. I have not found any in this valley to point out to him, however. So, I show him pictures of them in books instead. Should he face dire circumstances, would not such knowledge prove vital?"

"We have kept poisonous plants out of this valley since we began raising mortals here."

Mellolaes raised an eyebrow. "That may be wise in the beginning, but prove fatal once the mortals leave this place. I always make 'wild meals' with little ones lessons. Estel can identify five more plants today than he could yesterday. He knows which are edible. I've neither taught him to find nor to eat mushrooms at all, yet, nor have I let him see 'me' eat them. I point out shrooms and plants with poisonous lookalikes when we see them and tell him not to eat them just in case. I know a great deal about human nutritional needs myself. I can identify signs of deficiencies in mortals, by sight, smell, and through The Song itself. Estel is healthy. 'I' intend to keep him so."

Erestor raised an eyebrow at the elleth in return. Then he took a drink from his water-glass. As he set it down again, he spoke in a mild tone. "I will make Lord Elrond aware of his son's new lessons and habit of eating between meals. If he agrees to them, and we find Estel in no worse health than before, your views shall be vindicated. If not, such doings must cease."

Mellolaes nodded while rising from her seat. She smoothed her skirt. "I find that solution suitable." She glanced back at her own empty plate and then cast the ellon a glance as she curtsied. "Thank you for the meal, Steward Erestor." She left as the steward picked up his water glass and took another sip behind her back.

. . .

"I find this inappropriate, Merilvidian."

The elleth raised an eyebrow at Imladris' Steward as she smirked. "What is inappropriate about it, Erestor?"

The Noldo sighed. After serving in Imladris only a few months, the Silvan had already become less formal. "For one thing, I sincerely doubt those who must wash Estel's laundry will appreciate the task of removing new hairs."

"I can give them good hints on how to do so. Are you really going to separate these two now?"

The elleth stepped sideways. Behind her, the moon illuminated Estel's bed. Tucked under his chin, a curled-up, orange-striped kitten purred. The boy grinned in his sleep.

The nurse looked back to the steward. She raised her chin and set her hands on her hips. "Estel will feel more secure in his sleep and when he is awake as well. He will also learn the qualities of love, tenderness, and responsibility. These are all good traits to develope, yes?"

Erestor's lowered voice came out a barely audible hiss. "And when the creature dies?"

Mellolaes' chin dipped. She stepped forward. Both hands left her hips and clutched his arm. Her own voice softened. "Hopefully, that will not occur for sometime, but sadly, there are lessons Estel must learn somehow, though they be painful. Do you really want the world beyond Imladris to be so great a shock to him when he leaves?"

Erestor continued to stare at the boy and kitten a few moments longer. The Silvan elleth could feel him melting in The Song. She smiled.

Erestor glanced at her and raised his eyebrows. Then he gave a stiff bow. "Very well, I will take the matter up with Lord Elrond. If he agrees, the kitten will remain with Estel. I assume you have provided the creature with proper … facilities?"

Mellolaes grinned. She pointed to a wooden box in the corner. The small crate was filled with sand. Then she pointed to two dishes in the opposite corner. One was still half-full of water. The other contained crumbs. Erestor nodded. "Carry on." He turned and strode away. Mellolaes smirked after him.

. . .

As Erestor turned into a doorway, two blurs slid by him in socks. His eyes widened as his gaze followed the giggling forms. Mellolaes plucked Estel up and held him as she herself turned and bumped harmlessly against a wall. She grinned down at the still laughing boy. "Was that fun?"

"Yes."

Erestor rolled his eyes, turned, and walked back out the way he had come.

. . .

Estel and Mellolaes strode out from the barn grinning and covered in hay. The child raced up to Erestor and grabbed hold of his robe with both fists. "Erestor! Melly and I jumped down from way up in the loft and into the giant hay-stack!"

. . .

"Erestor! Erestor! Melly and I pet a wet bumblebee!"

. . .

"Tell me what the problem is, exactly, my Steward."

The steward met his lord's gaze with a slight scowl. "I fear Merilvaidian encourages rather … 'dangerous' behavior in Estel."

Elrond raised his eyebrows. "He hasn't come to even small harms in her care."

"I know, my lord, but ..."

Erestor fell silent as his lord leaned forward. Elrond rested his elbows on desk and steepled his fingers. "Are you certain this doesn't have more to do with his picking up 'Silvan' behaviors from her?"

Erestor sighed and closed his eyes. "Perhaps ..."

Elrond nodded. Then he leaned back in his chair. "We knew this might happen when we sent for her. I have found no true harm in it. He still obeys us. He behaves far better than just before she came. He loves her and she him. She hasn't even asked for the money we promised to pay her yet, and only for a little time to herself. We can provide the latter when we prefer to care for him 'ourselves.' Where truly lies the trouble, mellon nin?"

Erestor opened his eyes, but lowered them to the floor as he folded his hands behind his back. Elrond's grin broadened. "Could this perhaps be a crumb of jealousy?"

Erestor closed his eyes. His voice tightened. "Of course not. It is only … she is … startling at times. My nerves strain slightly in her presence. Even when she does nothing, a small amount of tension remains, because I am 'waiting' for her to do something."

Elrond's deep voice was a little too solemn and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. "I see."

Erestor stiffened. His lord was trying not to laugh at him. The steward almost blushed.

Then the Peredhel's eyes widened for a moment. He leaned forward again. A ridge appeared between his eyes and over his nose. "Does she touch a raw place left by another?"

Erestor raised his gaze just enough to stare at the surface of his lord's desk. He did not blink. He did not look up. He did keep his voice even. "I have seen harms done due to the lack of proper care, yes."

Elrond sighed and leaned back in his chair again. "I have always appreciated the proper concern and care you give your tasks, Erestor. I also appreciate, however, Mellolaes' experience and love for my child. I trust her with him. I think you should as well. Then you two would get along better. Estel would be better for it."

Erestor closed his eyes and gave a slight bow. "Forgive me, my lord. I will try not to waste your time with such matters again unless I have more evidence of true danger."

Elrond's brows rose, but he nodded. "I do forgive you, my steward. You are excused… if you are certain we are finished with everything you wish to discuss."

Erestor bowed again while keeping his eyes closed. "I am sure, my lord. Thank you for your patience. Good day." He strode to the door, opened it, and exited.

After the door had closed, The Lord of Imladris sighed and crouched back over his desk while picking up a quill pen. He certainly hoped his oldest and most faithful servant nd newest and most lively one could learn to coexist.

. . .

As Erestor shut the door behind him, his lord's question echoed through his mind. Does she touch a raw place left by another?

He had gone through three homes this side of the sea before his lord and his lord's twin were born. He had made himself vital in each home through his work, usually involving paper, pen, and an inkwell. He wrote down records of the rise and falls of his people's cities and heroes, and recopied them when they fell apart. He also checked and rechecked supplies, inspecting them for flaws: spoilage, leaks, rust, wear, and tear. That was all Elrond knew, and Elros had known, about him.

They had never really questioned him about why he did these things, or if he had always done them, and for who. Centuries before meeting them, he had kept out of sight of those he thought would first notice and then pity him. Soon everyone knew grief. His people had looked to the future with fear. Emergencies were easy times to put off long talks about the past. Finally, all had concentrated on moving into the next age with hope.

Most he interacted with now, had forgotten or never known. Those who did know, did not often question him about it. They knew he would not answer.

He had crossed the sea to keep his friend safe, or at least know his fate. He had failed in the first, and wished he had failed in the second. Failure was an ugly thing and so easily fallen into. How could any be careless, or be allowed to be so?

He was only the Steward, though. It was not his place to question Lord Elrond's decision. Still, he would continue to keep watch over his lord's house, and his lord's youngest son. It was his duty and purpose. Why else was he here?

Reviews are much appreciated and often responded to.

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes