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Estel's Encounter in the Woods pt 2
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Tolkien...nothing to me.
Estel had been gone from Rivendell for four days, now, and was on his way home; with several miles left to travel. But he was in absolutely no hurry to get there, regardless of the weather. He hadn't bothered to get anything to take home with him, and really never even planned on it. He knew very well that his Adar was well aware, of what he was doing out in the forest. Just enjoying that glorious solitude that Estel so craved.
He had wanted, and needed, a break from his adoptive family, not to mention his home. He really wanted to be alone. The Elves who lived at Imladris, always seemed to be coming and going; except for him, it seemed. He knew he was still very young, but he was seventeen, and in human years he was a grown man...right?
True, he went out with his brothers and other Elves to ride, hunt and camp; which was fun...but he was carefully watched, and never allowed to be completely alone. Oh, how aggravating it was. He thought more humans were away from their abodes, than they were home. Why not him? Lord Elrond of Imladrid, his adoptive father who was helping to raise him, was far too did he have to be that way?.
So he had decided to leave for a few days using the excuse of hunting for venison as a reason for leaving, when all he wanted was to get away. He knew it was a bad idea, but unfortunately the only one he could think of at the time. So, he had left a note for his Adar telling him that; informing him that he would be gone for a couple of days; three at the most.
He had quietly packed up his gear in his room, not wantng to draw attention to himself. Then he had stuffed some of his clothes into his pack, to last him for a few days; some food from the pantries, and a few basic items for potential injuries; athelas and other healing herbs. He really did not think he would need them. He had his weapon and felt safe with he grabbed his sword and cloak and left. He knew his relatives would probably worry a lot about him; his mother the most. And that he did worry about, but he knew she would be ok.
Estel was considering camping out one more night; to prolong his adventure one more day. However he knew that he should continue on through the night to get home; away from this oppressive, chilling mist, which was quickly turning into a thick fog,,,and it was happening so rapidly; making it very difficult to see. His horse kept stumbling in the nearly impenetrable air around them.. It got to the point where he could not see anything but the ground in front of him...not even the trees around them. Just the sounds of eerie silence broken occassionally by an owl, bats, and small animals running and scurrying through the trees. The cold breeze picked up; whistling and whispering around the trees; making the long , bare tree branches scrape against each other, and the tree trunks along with the dead, dry falling leaves flying around, while making scraping noises against each other. None of this could be seen which made everything seem more ominous. It was like being blind and surrounded by obstacles interspersed with desperation. Then he heard a very distant baying, and his heart froze. He was alone and...wolves? Normally he wouldn't be so jittery, but this night was reminding him more and more of a time when he was young and got lost in the woods late. It was terrifying for him.
TBC