C.5
Estel did not remember much from the battle. He shivered, for even though his mother's arms were warm, his clothes were damp from the heavy perspiration that now ran freely down his back. He was thinking about what Reneal had said. Estel noticed something different in the Ranger's voice; it had sounded almost menacing to him, like a threat.
Ever since the first day in Rivendell, he always noticed that the hair on his neck stood on end whenever Reneal was around. He never told his mother because he did not want to upset her, but he knew that he would never be able to let his guard down.
He blinked as moisture dripped from his hair into his eyes and trembled as the lighting outside flashed brilliantly sending another shattering thunderclap to rock the mountain. It still felt and sounded like a dragon rolling over in its sleep. He was reassured a little bit, as the thunder seemed to be rolling off into the distance.
Gilrean hushed her son and rocked him; she was more terrified than the child was. She wished devoutly that she and Estel were back in Rivendell at the moment, instead of crouching in a shallow cave at the top of a mountain.
Not since her beloved Arathorn had died, had she felt so helpless and alone. The rangers were skilled and brave, but she could see in their eyes that they now doubted the necessity of this journey.
Gilrean had come to begin to doubt it, too. Surely her son could learn what he needed to know in Rivendell or from Reneal and the other rangers, but it was too late to turn back now.
She wondered why Elrond had been so insistent.
She looked down at her son; he had finally fallen asleep. She very carefully laid him down on his sleeping pad, so as not to wake him. He always looked so peaceful when he slept, but she could see now that not even slumber could erase the memories of this day. Estel's brow was creased as he dreamed of the hideous faces he had seen earlier, faces he had killed. Gilrean barely heard Reneal's footfalls.
"He sleeps uneasily. Only time can heal these bad memories. Do you wish for me to talk to him on the morrow? Maybe I can help relieve some of his new worries. Allow him to sleep only for a few hours; we must be off soon. We ran off those orcs too easily, next time we might not be so lucky. They will redouble their effort if we wait too long. We must press on as far as possible; we must reach the river soon."
Gilrean nodded her agreement and then quietly slipped under the blanket with her son. She held him close and drifted off into a restless sleep…