Encounter in the Woods…Chapter 8…
About 2 hours after dinner, they were nearly there, but could only see Rivendell from a distance.
" I'm so glad to be so close to home, and will get to see family again."
that is if I CAN see there better than in the forest."
"Estel," asked Kin, hesitantly. I have 4 gifts for you to remember me by. Is that alright?"
"Gifts? Gifts for what? What are they?"
"Two lockets that are very precious to me, and I hope you
enjoy them. I think you will, though."
"What is the third one?" Estel asked with excitement.
"It's a small knife for you to put in your boot for protection."
"And the fourth, Kin?"
"Well, you'll find out soon..."
"Thank you for the gifts, but I have nothing for you.."
"You have given me your close friendship, Estel. And that is worth everything."
"I wouldn't be alive without you."
"If my children had survived, I would have wanted my son to be as good a man,
such as yourself, Estel, for you are. Your Adar is a very fortunate
individual to have such a wonderful, loving heart for a son. I envy him
that."
"Thank you so much for all the compliments, Sir."
"Well, horse? Rivendell? Your home?"
" Kin, I am anxious to get there, but could we wait for a short while? I would like to visit with you some before
we arrive home. I feel very close to you, and don't understand why, but I feel like I know you."
"That's fine. I have a few things I want to discuss with you, as well." Kin turned his head and shed a couple of tears, not knowing what to say or how to say it. But he was grateful that Estel could not see him at that moment.
Kin and Estel got down from Shea, and Kin made a large fire so Estel could see him well for their chat. Estel saw and smelled the fire, he saw flickering on the trees near them, leaves on the ground, rustling and flying around. But most of all he could see Kin. He thought this was very comforting, and felt very safe.
"So what haven't you told me, yet? Is it important? Maybe something you are hiding or just don't want me to know."
"You really are curious, Estel."
"All right. I will now give you the answers you are searching for. Now you know I can see perfectly well and you cannot out in this forest. I don't belong here and you see, you are actually here and I am not. It confuses me, also."
"What are you saying. Kin? I can see you, hear you, touch you. Are you a spirit?"
"Yes, I am Estel," Kin replied sadly to him.
Estel was so confused and a little fearful. "So why are you here with me?"
"I knew it was you when I raced down the road to save you; I knew I could. I couldn't let you of all people die."
"How did you know it was me?" Estel asked a little hesitantly. "How could you?"
"I wanted to get to know you so much, Estel."
"I love you...you are my son, I am your father."
"But how can you be, there is no way...what about your family that you lost? Did you lie to me?"
"Yes, I am so sorry, Estel. I wanted to get to know you better as just another person...so, I did that. I deeply apologize to you."
"But how can you be here...you are...not alive."
"I don't understand it, either, Aragorn; but I'm here." Aragorns' father gave him a very sweet smile."I wanted to know what you and your life were like, and what life might have been like
if you, Gilraen, and I would have been able to raise you together and live together for many years, instead of just a few. Gilraen did a wonderful job of raising you. I have missed her so much."
"I know she would love to hear that when we get there."
Estel went to his father and hugged him very hard, and Kin returned it. They both shed a few tears. The feelings between them were very strong.
"I can't believe I'm seeing and hugging you, my father. So what about your name. My father's name is not Kinaegyl."
"No, that means Royal Eagle, which means Arathon or Arathorn.
"I have to stay in the dark here and now, in your dark, while I am here. It's light for me, even though it's dark for was precious just being with you even if it was just for a day." Arathorn was very upset about his time to leave coming so soon. He did not know if he could do this; but he had no choice if he wanted to see them and spend some time with them. He was afraid he might actually break down when he saw Gilraen again.
"It was a magical day, Aragorn."
"How do you know my name? Very few people know."
"I should know. I'm the one who named you, my son," Arathorn grinned at him, almost laughing. Aragorn grinned widely at him.
"Alright, your several days in the forest was only one to me. My stay here is very short. I don't know why that is. I can only visit here for one day a year...it's very sad. I can't even go out each year. Just occasionally. I'm sure it felt like many days to you. I'm not sure of all of my limitations, but I know I will be called away soon. Perhaps I will be able to visit here every year, from now on. I can try. That would be wonderful."
"I agree. I would love to see more of you, father. Even if only for a very short time in the forest. I'm sure my mother would accompany me," they smiled at each other.
"I have an odd question for you, Adar. Are you allowed to eat here.?"
"Well, Estel, no I can't. How did you figure that out?" Estel just grinned very broadly.
"Well, father, you ate just far too much for my taste."
…..
"Will you at least be able to spend a little time with my, our, family?"
"I will not let myself go until I have spent time with them. I wish I could stay here forever with you two. I love you so much."
"Me, too, father, there are no words for it."
They hugged again, and Arathorn put his arm around his son. They looked at each other, knowing they had found a treasure in each other. Aragorn looked at his new knife. It had beautiful designs on it, and was very sharp.
"That was the knife my father gave me when I was very young. The designs are Elvish. I had that for years, even when I...anyway, it was always special to me. Now it is yours, young Estel. I hope you get a lot of use for it through the years...and remember who gave it to you through your life."
'"Well, Aragorn, I'm going to put the fire out, now. Grab your torch. You won't need it much longer. Are you hungry?"
"No, I'm not really."
"So, are you ready to go?"
"I guess so.
Arathorn lit Estel's torch, put the fire out, and stomped the ashes to nothing. He grabbed all of his necessities and put them in his pack on his horse. Then he helped Aragorn onto Shea and climbed on himself.
…
It was a short distance to Rivendell. Estel's vision was a little better, a little brighter. He looked behind him in the forest and noticed it was lighter as well. How it confused him.
But he imagined his companion, horse and family could see..
Estel was so excited, but he knew he'd be in for trouble. Probably a good scolding from his Adar. Estel was very happy to be there. He wanted the comfort , security and safety
of being home again. That was quite a traumatic thing he had been through.
Elrond and Gilraen were in the rose gardens. Elrond sat on a bench, while Gilraen paced back and forth, worried looks on their faces, just praying Estel would arrive safely back home.
"Please don't worry too much...I know that I don't have any control over that, but you know how excellent the trackers and fighters are here in Rivendell; Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel and everyone else. They will find him safe and well. They all love him here, too, you know . They will do everything they can to bring him
home."
Just then, Arathorn appeared and lifted his arm in greeting to Lord Elrond as he gazed at Gilraen. She gave him the most curious look.
Estel was so content to see the two together, even if his mother didn't recognize Arathorn, yet.
Elrond held his arm up to the stranger as well, and also looked at him curiously. He appeared very familiar to him.
As soon as Elrond and Gilraen saw the two mounted on a horse; they hurried to see who the the new visitors were.
"Estel? Oh, Elbereth, you're here!" He climbed down from Shea and gave her a big smile and hug.
"You have worried me so much. Where have you been, Estel?" She ran her hands through his hair, then laughed a little, and then hugged him very tightly, again. Arathorn slowly climbed off his horse.
"He is fine, my lady, he was under my care. He was injured, but I took care of that.".
Gilraen paused for several moments, staring at Arathorn and he staring at her. "Hello, kind Sir. Thank you for my son," and she gave him a gentle hug, while he luxuriated in the scent of her hair.
She pushed his arms away, yet held on to them. "Excuse me, but who are you? You seem very familiar to me. Have we met before? I'm sure we have."
He looked down, then up at her. "Gilraen, it is I, Arathorn."
"No! it cannot be you. My husband was killed many years ago. So it is not you standing in front of me, right now. Who are you?"
"I truly am who I say I am, Gilraen. I have no other way to prove it to you, except for what you see, smell and feel. of me. Please know it is me. I know it is you without a doubt. Have faith, it is always a good thing," he smiled at her.
Gilraen then approached him again, gave him a hug, smelled his hair, as she ran her hands through it. She ran her thumbs across his beard, and she fell in love all over again. But it had never actually gone anywhere in the first place. He had always been here in her heart. The love between them started glowing in her eyes, as well as his.
"If you are not Arathorn, you are the closest that anyone has ever come to being him. I know it is you, my love." She almost shined looking at him. The two lovers hugged and kissed.
"How is it you're here? Why are you here?"
Arathorn took her by the hand and led her to a bench. They sat, and he wrapped his cloak around her. Thank you, but it's not very chilly out here."
"I would just like you to have it as a memento to remember me by, or something to wear when you are cold."
"I always loved that cloak, it always made me think of you when you were out somewhere. I will proudly accept it, my love. Is there anywhere we can find you in the forest to visit with you like this?" she pleadingly asked.
"I'm so sorry, but I can only appear here once a year. And I am not meant to be found. I was lucky to find you now for a visit."
"Where do you dwell?"
"I do not dwell anywhere. I do not exist. When the forest is very dark and foggy I can see. When it is light, I disappear. It's very confusing, I know. One day for me is several for humans and other beings. I think Aragorn can explain a lot of the rest."
"Perhaps we should invite him over here to visit with both of his parents."
"Oh, yes, Arathorn, I got so involved talking to you. I want to know everything about you now, but we need Aragorn with us as well. Estel, come here , please. What happened to you right after you died?" she asked with a tear in her eye.
"A big nothingness, but a soothing one. I guess it's what you might call heaven. But I am fine there, Gilraen."
Estel hurried over to them and pushed them aside to sit in the middle.
"The same he did as a small child. He was such a sweet boy, and still is now," he hugged him on the shoulder.
"A child? I am not a child!" I am almost 17."
"Well, you are OUR child and always will be, my son. Nothing will ever change that," he smiled endearingly, and raised his eyebrows at both his wife and son.
"I am here to see you and Aragorn. I wanted to see you as soon as I could ; nothing could have kept me from here."
"I've wanted to know how you have been all these years, even though it has been so many. But I can see you are well."
"I'm here particularly to get to know what our son is like. He is wonderful, Gilraen. I wish we could have raised him together. You have done a wonderful job in raising him."
"So many things happened in the forest while we were there. I saved Estel from a wolf pack and healed him with athelas and a very potent drug called anora. It saved his life."
She had been shedding lots of tears as she listened to him. He shed a couple tears as well. "Thank you for all the compliments, and you just being you. I adore you."
"And I you as well." He reached down and picked her a beautiful, red rose. They held hands tightly as if they never wanted to let each other go."It's wonderful. I love it; Thank you."
"Well," Aragorn interrupted, thinking they were getting a little carried away, stood up and paced a little. " I got attacked by a pack of wolves and couldn't see them in the heavy dark fog in the forest. I had no weapon, but was rescued by Kin. I already got the scolding about that and a lot more from him." It was terrifying. But I'm fine, mother. "
Elrond had been standing at a distance, wanting the two to have as much time together as possible, without interruption. Aragorn had been very grateful for that. "Elrond, how have you been? And Elladan, Elrond and all the rest of my friends here at Imladis?"
Elrond took a few steps forward, "They are all fine, out looking for Estel. When he didn't show up, everyone went to look for him. Little brother to all. They all love him, too."
Arathorn raised his eyebrows at Estel, who felt very guilty about the situation. "I am really sorry, I didn't mean to cause so much trouble for everyone."
Arathorn's mood softened."That's alright, my son, you didn't know."
"Thank you, Adar. Oh, I forgot about the gifts he sent us. "Here," he showed his Nana. "This was Adar's knife, when he was younger; before he...it's for me. Here are two lockets for you, Nana."
She looked at them,turned them over, and looked inside. She gasped when she saw what was there.
"Arathorn! You still have these...I wondered whatever happened to these."
"I saved them for you all these years."
"Estel, come and look at these."
He went over and looked at them, curiously. "Who are these people?"
"They are of our family. One picture is of your father and I shortly before we were wed. The other is of Arathorn and you as a two year-old toddler." She shed a couple more tears.
Arathorn lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. I will always be here , you know, in your heart and in mine, even when I'm not physically here, Gilraen. You and Aragorn will be in my heart all the time.
Arathorn began to look around nervously; at the grounds, the flower beds, the sky, the wonderful, sweet smells, sights and sounds of Rivendell. A real place that he wanted to remember forever. He laid on the ground, so happy to be here again. He closed his eyes to enjoy the warm breeze floating over him. Aragorn laid on the ground, looking up at the clouldy, blue sky. Aragorn laid down beside him on the grass, and Gilraen smiled as she laid down as well.
He reached over and gave them hugs, stood up and slowly walked to the forest.
"Gilraen, I love you with all my heart, I always will...My Wandering Star…"
"I feel the same, Arathorn."
"I'm being called. I cannot remain longer. I will see you again, I know I will. But for now I must leave."
Goodbye, my love." "He seemed to whisper as the words just faded quietly away into the light evening breeze. Estel turned to look, puzzled,as his father just disappeared before his eyes as he walked into the forest. The fog slowly cleared as he disappeared, the forest looking the same as before. They both looked
into the forest for a while, before they both headed for home.
...
"Did you know There are no wolves and fog that thick anywhere near Rivendell, Estel?"
"Really? Only when father is here."
"Yes."
.
"But there is an herb called anora which cured me almost completely. It is
like a miracle drug. It's for Adar, and is rare and hard to find. But there
is some in Rivendell...you just have to hunt for it."
"So why did you run off and leave all of us wondering and worried? There are
a lot of elves looking for you. We stayed behind, hoping you'd show up here.
"But I guess you were in excellent care."
"I told you in a note I left for you and Adar, mother. "
"That was considerate, but still not a good enough reason.. You got injured, you got hurt.
Please don't do this again without company. You can go on your own in 2 or 3 years.
"Of course I hope that you realize by then that more than 1 is always better than just one.
Always. No age makes any difference, but you must be able to take
care of yourself. So it's better to be a little older, to take better care of
yourself and others you may be with. Do you feel up to that, you?"
"No, I guess I don't.".
.
"Guess?"
"You will have some extra chores for running off."
"Estel?"
"Yes, Nana."
"Well I think I should check for wounds and scars and see how well healed
they are. I need to see how well this herb works," Elrond interrupted.
"Gillraen intervened. "Well, I'll go get your dinner, your favorites. Is that alright with you?"
"I love you so much, Estel, I know your father did, too."
" I love the 2 of you as well. Maybe he'll show up later again next year," Estel, grinned.
He could not stop thinking about his Adar. It was then he realized what the fourth gift was. It was his horse, Shea. What a wonderful gift!
His father...his very best friend…
The End