My Brother, My Son
Part 6
"What is this?"
Go away….
"Looks tired, do you suppose he's a Ranger?"
Leave me alone…
"Let's get him some water,"
The voices wouldn't let him alone; all he wanted to do was sleep. Estel groaned as a soft hand raised his head and something was put to his mouth, cool water was poured in then, it was enough for him to wake up. Estel opened his eye's to three girls who kneeled besides him.
"I think he'll be all right," the girl to the far right said.
"Nothing is broken, but I still think father should have a look," the girl in the middle said.
"What is your name, stranger?" the girl who cradled his head asked.
"My name…?" Estel asked stupidly. The girls giggled, they were human's.
"My name is Tauré, the second is Mîrwen, and then she is Lótelas," Tauré said.
"And yes we do look the same," Mîrwen grinned; and indeed she was right. The girls looked to all be about twenty. Each had flowing red hair and green eyes. Tauré wore a blue gown, Mîrwen a light green gown and Lótelas a dark red gown.
"I am glad to meet you, my name is Estel," He stood up, painfully and the girls followed.
"Are you sure he isn't hurt?" Mîrwen ask Lótelas.
"I wouldn't know without giving him an examination," Lótelas said with a grin.
"That shant be necessary," Estel said quickly. This sent the girls into hysterics.
"Please….forgive them…." Tauré said between breaths, "They are only having fun, please come home with us, our village isn't far from here."
"Oh yes, Father can give you a look over," Mîrwen said.
"Besides, we still don't know why your out here in the first place," Lótelas shrugged.
"I have nothing better to do," Estel agreed. The group was led by Lótelas; the sun was gone by this time, but Mîrwen had a lantern for them to see by.
"What brings you girls out here anyway?" Estel asked.
"We were picking moon daisy's," Tauré said.
"Father needs them for most of his healing salves, but they only grow during the full moon," Lótelas explained.
"I see," Estel nodded his head. They walked slowly up a hill and when they got to the pinnacle, Estel could see the village below. With the help of the moon light, Estel could see that the village was more like a small city. It had high stone walls with sentries at important impasses. The highest building was also made out of stone while the rest of the buildings were of a nicely trimmed and stained wood.
"That is Uvitar, our home," Lótelas said.
"I haven't heard of this village before," Estel said.
"You wouldn't, Bree is the most important in these parts, but we are quite wealthy and the Magistrate is working on making the village more prosperous," Mîrwen said.
"Come, there is father at the gate," Tauré said.
The four climbed down the large hill and after about a meter's walk; they were at the village gates.
"What are you doing here?" Elladan asked.
"I had a vision," Arwen replied.
"What sort of vision?" Elrohir asked.
"A bad one and that is all I shall say of the matter, what of Estel?" Arwen asked.
The three elves had made their camp in a little glen as far away as they dared from the human one. Above them the star's shone bright, and their soft glow added to the magic of the night.
"We know that he has been kidnapped; but we haven't found a trace of him, yet," Elrohir replied.
"This isn't working, we need to do something," Elladan sighed.
"We need to replenish our stalks and keep searching, Estel doesn't have the time that we do," Arwen said.
"Do you mean that he'll be killed?" Elladan asked.
"I am not sure, all I know is that if we do not find him, than all is lost," was the elf maiden's reply.
"I wish I hadn't sent him away when he had wanted to talk,' Elladan sighed.
"It is all right, I take part blame as well," Elrohir said, patting his brother on the shoulder. Arwen came up to them and gave each a hug before stepping back.
"We all had our parts, let us sleep and then in the morning we shall make for Utivar," she said.
"Good idea, little sister," the twins agreed.
The room he had been sequestered in was warm and cozy. The fire place was ablaze with a calming fire, the bed was just calling to him, but he wanted to finish the tea first. It was strong and made of black current, but Estel did not care. He looked up as Eadfrid walked into the room.
"Are feeling any better?" the Healer asked as he set his supplies on the table.
"Nothing broken, sir, and for me…that's a good thing!" Estel replied.
"I remember getting into a few good scrams myself; when I was younger of course," The Healer replied.
Eadfrid was tall with long white hair that was lose about his shoulders; he wore the pale robes of a Healer, and his left hand was position at an odd angle. Eadfrid notice Estel looking at his left hand and smiled gently.
"Just one of those scrapes, lad – my older brother, Renweard, challenged me to a horse race, I lost and broke my hand when I fell and the horse stomped on it. It has been this way ever since. Needless to say, the Healer back in my time wasn't very good and so I studied so that I may fix anything that comes to me," Eadfrid said.
"Wish you could fix my problem," Estel muttered. Eadfrid took a seat in the one other chair in the room and poured some tea for himself.
"There is no time like the present, tell me has happened to you," the old man said. Estel was weary at first, but then he started to explain. He explained how he had been kidnapped and about the fight he had with his father from months before. Through it all, Eadfrid was quiet, but he was listening.
"That is a big problem, but think of it this way…at least this Glorion fellow hadn't found you in those woods, my daughters did and that was fortunate," Eadfrid said.
"I know, and I am glad, I am sorry that I bothered you with my problems,"
"Well, I think that we should take care of this as soon as possible, do you know your way to Bree?" Eadfrid asked.
"I'll know when I can figure out where Utivar is,"
"We shall look over map's in the morning, we shall also send a messenger to your father, and while we wait for a reply, you may stay here with me and my family," Eadfrid said.
"That is the best course of action," Estel replied with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Good, good, besides…" the older man stood and stretched his back, some of his joints popped as he did so, "My girls are wanting to show you around the village and get you clean clothes and a cut of your hair,"
"They want to play dress up?" Estel's eyes grew wide.
"Not exactly, but don't worry, they only want to bless you," Eadfrid laughed then he wished Estel good night and left the boy alone.
"Tauré! Have you seen my hair brush?" Mîrwen yelled from her room.
"No! but you can borrow mine!" came the reply from the eldest of the three.
"Shall I wear yellow or green today?" Lótelas asked, she stood in the hall way in her night shift holding two dresses.
"GREEN!" Mîrwen and Tauré replied. Lótelas nodded her head and went to change.
This was the greeting that Estel got when he emerged from his room; the girls ran from each others room in a hurry as they tried to decide what to do with their hair. Who would wear it up, who would wear it down and if it was all right to do both. He noticed that each girl also had their own pendant.
"It's for when we are together in a crowd, whoever has the star is Tauré, the moon is mine and the birch tree is Mîrwen's," Lótelas had explained to him when she saw him looking at the pendants. Then she pointed him the way to the dinning room.
Eadfrid was all ready there; he poured some tea for Estel as he sat down.
"I've never heard such a ruckus before in my life," Estel said.
"Girls, they are always considering how they look; and mind me, my daughter's are very pretty, they need not try so hard," Eadfrid replied.
"They are, and energetic at the same time," Estel agreed.
"Are you talking about us?" the girls asked as they came into the dinning room.
"Yes," Estel and Eadfrid replied.
"Shall we eat then?" Tauré asked as she took eggs upon her plate.
"And then we shall go to the market and get Estel some clothes!" Mîrwen said.
"You honestly don't need too…" Estel started but Eadfrid stopped him.
"I didn't see any sort of bag, which means that you only have the clothes on your back; since Lord Elrond is a Healer in his own rights, why don't you help me with my herbs and patients till we hear from your Father? Nothing would be charity if you came to work for me while you stay with us,"
Estel gave a small smile, "That – I can do."
A/N –
Eadfrid is Rohan for "Blessed Peace"
Renweard is Rohan for "Horse Guard"
As for Tauré, Lótelas and Mîrwen – these are Gondorian and I have no clue what they mean. They are triplets as well, if you hadn't figured that out yet.