Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 40 – Dawn of hope
Third Age 2951 (18 years later)
Eruanna followed the garden path down into the valley. This was not a casual stroll. It took time and careful maneuvering to reach her intended destination, a small rock outcropping overlooking the river. It was the child's favorite hiding place, after all, why should it be easy to reach?
Eruanna spied him sitting in his usual spot, seemingly preoccupied with his hands. She announced her approach from afar so as not to startle him. Eruanna learned very quickly that though her own hearing was poor compared to the elves, Estel seemed near deaf in comparison. It was always best to announce her presence, especially since the twins began his weapons training.
"I thought I'd find you here, Estel," she called out across the ridge.
Estel's eyes flew to the source of the unexpected greeting. The young man's lips curled into a smile at the sight of his childhood tutor, but the expression did not entirely reach his eyes. "Good afternoon Eruanna. Have you just returned from Lothlórien?"
"A few hours ago," Eruanna settled down easily at the young man's side, "and to my great delight I learned that you, too, have returned from your travels."
Eruanna laid a companionable hand on the young man's shoulder. "So, tell me of your adventures. Your brothers spoke of great deeds. I would hear your account of them."
Eruanna braced herself for an enthusiastic retelling of high adventure. Even as a small boy, Estel possessed a flair for storytelling. He could turn a fall from a tree or a scraped knee into a tale of bravery and high renown. She expected nothing less from him after his year in the wilderness.
The shadow that fell across the young man's face was not what Eruanna expected. Concerned by the abrupt change in the Estel's affect, Eruanna studied him carefully. She noted for the first time a significant change in him since their last encounter. No trace of the childlike innocence of youth remained in his stormy eyes and the lines of his face spoke of some inner turmoil. Eruanna wondered at the cause of this change, and why the twins failed to warn her that something was amiss.
Eruanna followed Estel's gaze as it returned to his hands. He wore a ring on his right hand of a strangely familiar design. Eruanna developed quite a passion for illustration over her long years of study, a passion born from viewing the beautifully detailed drawings that accompanied the great tales. In a flash of memory she connected the image of the ring with its place in history.
"The ring of Barahir," her eyes widened in surprise.
Estel's thoughts came into focus with Eruanna's utterance, "You know it?" he asked her.
"Of course, I have studied the great histories," she reminded him.
Estel's breath hitched, as if he fought hard to hold back his words. He did not succeed and they escaped with a torrent of emotion. "Did you know who I was as well?"
It was a simple question but laden with a mixture of curiosity, hurt, and betrayal. Eruanna heard and felt them all as those piercing eyes pressed her for an answer.
"I knew. I was there the night you and your mother came to us." Eruanna's soft voice did little to cushion the impact of her words.
"And all this time, no one saw fit to speak my true name?" Estel very near growled in reply.
The harshness of Estel's retort startled Eruanna. She'd never before seen the child so upset. Her face must have shown her surprise, for the young man's expression softened to one of shameful apology.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bark at you." Ashamed by his rudeness and ill temper, Estel looked away toward the river.
Eruanna, for her part, had long been awaiting this day. She suspected Elrond and the twins were unaware of the child's turmoil. Estel was clever at hiding his weaknesses from the ellyn he admired. He would not allow them to see the hurt their secrets caused him. Eruanna, however, was more akin to a 'kindly aunt' than a role model and so was more likely to bear witness to the child's hurts and frustrations.
Perhaps is was fate then, that of all the edhil living in Imladris, Eruanna knew more of the pain and betrayal Estel felt right now, for she too had been told by loved ones that she was not who she thought herself to be.
That thought brought with it a flood of memories and it was Eruanna's turn to stare at her hands. They were unchanged with the passage of time, as was the face that greeted her in the mirror each morning, but Eruanna knew that like Estel she, too, would not be entirely immune to its power. She'd long suspected that, like Elrond, more lines would appear on her hands and face as the ages passed. There was a time, of course, when Eruanna was unaware of that possibility, a time when she believed she was like everyone else.
"I was twenty-two when I learned the truth about my father," she stated without preamble.
Estel was caught by the unexpected shift in conversation and his attention returned once more to his companion. He knew, of course, that Eruanna was half-elven. His brothers told him long ago when he asked how they always knew when he, ada, or Eruanna were near.
'We can hear you, of course. Men have such a heavy step,' Elladan tusseled the young boy's hair.
Elrohir laughed deeply at the expression of annoyance that blossomed on the child's face as he attempted to flatten his unruly mane with his hands. 'Ada and Eruanna are quieter," Elrohir added, "but alas, to a trained elven warrior, even half-elven footfalls are like the sounding of trumpets."
Estel pressed his brothers for more information about Eruanna's parents, but his brothers said it was not their story to tell. Estel reluctantly accepted their decision and soon forgot the matter entirely. His curiosity was renewed by the elleth's timely comment.
Twenty-two years…at least Elrond didn't wait that long.
"Why did they wait so long?" he asked her, unable to keep his natural curiosity at bay.
Eruanna drew up her knees, wrapping her arms around them as she did. "I suppose my grandparents could no longer hide the truth from me. I was growing too fast. At twenty an elf should still be but a child, while I was near full grown within that short span of years."
She'd retreated to her favorite tree overlooking the lake after receiving the news of her father. Her heart ached at the sharp memory. It marked the end of childhood.
"It felt as though my family had betrayed me by keeping this secret," she paused, remembering the hurt and how with time it slowly subsided. "It was out of love for me that my grandparents waited. They wished to protect me from the world and preserve my innocence for as long as they could. I did not understand at first, but I came to, in time."
Eruanna shifted her gaze to Estel. His eyes were fixed, as hers had been, on the shimmering waters. She knew he'd come to this hideaway for the same reason she'd fled to the safety of the branches…a place to escape, a place to think. Eruanna knew, also, that Elrond loved this mortal child as he did all the descendents of Elros. He wished only to protect this long removed nephew from the dangers of the world.
Eruanna laid her hand over the one that bore the ring. It was a heavy burden, greater than any Eruanna would ever know. She did not envy Estel his destiny, but in her heart, she knew he was more than worthy of whatever path Ilúvatar laid before him.
If there was one truth she'd learned by watching Estel grow, it was that honor and strength could live in the hearts of men.
She tightened her grip on the young man's hand in a gesture of comfort and support. "Your name is one of honor, but it carries with it a heavy burden. Elrond wanted your childhood to be joyful. He wished you to grow free from danger and without the weight of destiny upon you. It was for these reasons that he waited, not to cause you pain."
"I feel like I don't know who I am anymore." Estel had been unable to speak those words to Elrond and his brothers but they fell easily now from his lips.
"You are still Estel," she assured him, "but you are not a child anymore. Aragorn was the name given to you by your mortal kin. Aragorn is the man you will become. Elrond saw the makings of a man, a strong, noble man returned to him from the wilderness. If it were not so, he would not have given you the ring."
Eruanna stood gracefully, lifting a hand to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind Estel's round ear. It was time to leave the young man alone with his thoughts. "The sun is setting on childhood, Estel. Tomorrow you will wake, Aragorn, Lord of the Dúnedain. It will be the dawn of hope for men."
Eruanna turned away toward the path leading up to the house but before she could disappear into the wood a voice called softly after her.
"Thank you."
Eruanna cast a warm smile at the young man and in her most innocent voice offered a bit of advice she thought might very well alter the mortal's destiny for the better. "I know you prefer to walk the northern paths, Estel, but I would avoid them if I were you. Glorfindel has been plotting his revenge for over a year now."
Eruanna still wasn't certain what prank Estel and the twins played on Glorfindel to invite such a passionate response. What she did know, was that Glorfindel recruited a good many wardens to help carry out his reprisal. There were a long list of ellyn who'd been on the receiving end of the twins' humor and said ellyn were only too happy to offer Glorfindel aid. Now that Elladan and Elrohir could no longer hide behind 'little' Estel, a full scale war was about to erupt amid the peace of Elrond's house. Eruanna was quite looking forward to it.
Estel's eyes widened at the elleth's none too subtle warning, "Should I be worried?"
Eruanna made no reply, her expression, however, spoke volumes. "Good afternoon to you, Estel." With that, Eruanna disappeared into the darkening wood, abandoning Estel to his thoughts.
The meditative peace of the waters quieted Estel's mind and he was able to sift through the many thoughts and doubts that gnawed at his heart. Above the din of countless uncertainties, two truths rang clear in Estel's mind. Elrond loved him, and perhaps more importantly, Elrond believed in him. For as long as he could remember Estel trusted his father's wisdom and he would not begin to question it now. These truths ignited a spark of hope in his heart. The spark brightened into a flame.
Tired of warming the rock with his backside, Estel climbed to his feet, having no further need to remain by the river. With his spirits lifted, a lightness returned to his step. He made his way down from the precarious perch to the well trodden path with practiced ease. From there, he took to the southern slopes of the garden. The sweet fragrance of the elanor filled his lungs and he lifted his voice in song as he often did when a pleasant or sour mood took hold of him.
Years later, Eruanna would curse herself for warning him against taking the northern path, for as he wandered the southern greenway beneath the trees, Aragorn, son of Arathorn met the Lady Undómiel and the courses of both their stars were forever changed.