Chapter 3 Preparations for the Adventure & Riding out into the Sunrise

I do not own LOTR. It is the property of the great J.R.R Tolkien

Estel was gathering his cloths, some herbs from Elrond's collection, his weapons in a rucksack. Suddenly he heard a loud knock upon his door and flinched. He opened the door carefully to come face to face with a grinning Tindir. He tottered with a huge sack into the room.

"What is that you are carrying Tindir?" asked Estel.

"Food." said Tindir, as he pulled out some lembas to show him. "I found some, honey cakes and some dried fruits and…."

"What about the things I asked you bring?" hissed Estel

"No need to act like a goblin." pouted Tindir.

"I am not acting like a goblin." said Estel angrily.

"Fine. Here is the map you asked. I found it in my Ada's study." exclaimed Tindir.

"Meet me at the stables at night" whispered Estel.

"Agreed" nodded Tindir.

Before leaving Tindir whispered one sentence to Estel: "If anything goes wrong, YOU are responsible."

"Where did you found those?" asked Tindir, staring at Estel in amazement. Estel was lugging supplies of arrows and weapons that suited them behind him. Both were dressed in garments that would help them hide from unfriendly eyes.

"We have a long way to go to reach Green Wood. Also there would be several bad beings which might attack us on the way. We need to be prepared." said Estel trying to put the supplies he brought up on his adar's stallion Tinnuroch. It was a magnificent steed. It always reminded Estel of starry night. Tinnuroch sometimes behaves like a mother hen around like his brother Elladen, thought Estel amused.

Tindir was doing the same with his adar's steed. "All done" said Tindir. He turned to look at Estel to see him mounted on his horse set for journey. What caught his attention was not Estel but lord Elrond's steed, Tinnuroch and the steed looked like it is holding from rolling its eyes. Then he saw both their steeds sharing an exasperated glance. Tindir blinked his eyes and shook his head. 'Must be some tricks of the light' thought Tindir. He too mounted his steed Rochael.

"Take us to Green wood now known Mirkwood" whispered Estel to their horses. Horses stood still as if hesitating. Estel turned to Tindir confused. "Should we take our ponies instead of them?" asked Tindir. Both were startled as both horses suddenly started trotting out of the stable.

Both young heroes set out for their adventure with the stars twinkling above them.

House of Imraldis several hours later:

"Estel?" called Elohir pushing open the door of his little brother's rooms door. A small form curled up the bed with blankets covering the face.

"Ah someone is being lazy. Get up Estel. You already slept in enough during yesterday's celebrations." said Elohir pulling off the blanket of the bed only to spot a couple of pillows.

"He is up then? I didn't see him on the way here. Estel?..." wondered Elohir. He searched the entire room to find the boys boots and weapons are missing.

"Must be practicing archery. I didn't know he was such an early riser. Something is off."

Elohir went on searching the entire place for hours. He searched practice ground, stables garden and even the kitchens. He was getting more and more worried. He paused for a moment. 'Where is Tinnuroch? Estel is gone so is Tinnuroch. The silly child must have taken him for a ride. This is not the first time. For a moment he worried me. Let him return. I will teach him a lesson.' Thought Elohir as he returned to have some breakfast. Running after adventurous and silly little brothers certainly makes one hungry.

Several hours away from Imraldis, a calm and green forest clearing:

Both elfling and human child was asleep upon a tree branch. Their horses fed and watered were standing beneath the tree. In fact both of the horses were having an interesting conversation between them.

"Rochael, I am worried for younglings. These young ones are trying to go Mirkwood. It was beautiful once…but now that place is not for young ones to wander" said Tinnuroch.

"Younglings shouldn't wander anywhere." snorted Rochael.

"True. The young ones are under the impression that they are in an adventure or something. I know the way to the Mirkwood. As lord Elrond's steed it is my duty protect the young ones of his house. It is a good thing we have not allowed the young ones to take those frivolous ponies. Those two too flighty and careless. They could end up somewhere lost and get hurt….."whinnied Tinnuroch.

Yes, Yes I know... We need to get the younglings safely to the palace of the wood elves. They shall inform our masters." agreed Rochael.

Sighing to themselves that looking after flighty elflings is too tiring with the years passing the two horses waited for the children to wake and resume their adventure.

A/N: Extremely sorry for the long delay. It has been frantic these five months... Starting college and exams gave me writers block. Any way I will try to update regularly. Thanks to ILOVEMyArchEnemy, Jessicaelvenprincess, HanaHeart, window girl, and Elf141 for your kind reviews. I will do my best to reach your expectations.

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