Chapter 13
To: The Lords Elrond, Glorfindel, Elladan, and Elrohir
Last Homely House
Imladris
20 July TA
From: Estel and Gilrean
Golden Wood of Lothlorien
We miss you all very much. Several of the Dunedain fell in battle with the orcs in the mountains. We lost Reneal to the River Ninglor. Lord Elrond, I need your help. Reneal attacked Estel. We have been unable to get much out of him, but I believe it was because Reneal was jealous of Estel. We must fight harder to conceal his lineage; I fear for him, even more so than normal. Like any parent, I wish for no harm to come to Estel. But this incident has opened my eyes to his greatest danger. I know it in my heart that he will never escape his doom, but I fear for him. I fear he will be hunted, probably the rest of his life. We have told him nothing of this, yet I fear he guesses that there's some of Numenor that runs true in him. I dread doing this but we need to tell the Rangers to join our cause and to tell no one about Aragorn. He does not yet know the power of his name, but once he does, all hope of safety will disappear. But I speak of things still far away in my mind's eye.
I have beheld your fair daughter Arwen; indeed, though he is still young, it will be hard to keep him away. I have been told that the Lord and Lady have spoken with all of the Elves and have commanded them to avoid the subject if he should bring it up. Indeed, I see that is both of their fates to be one day joined.
I must go now. Estel is longing to tell you of his adventures.
Give the twins and Glorfindel our love
Gilrean
Then added in Estel's scrawling handwriting was this message:
I am happy to have never traveled before now. There were so many interesting and new and scary things. The snow in the mountains was beautiful and if it hadn't been for it and the rain, I wouldn't have met my new friends.
In the cave we were staying in, there were two bears that I found while exploring. Then on our last trip to see them, they woke up: the momma and her cub. But I wasn't scared. The mother bear pulled me towards her and started cleaning me with her tounge! And then the cub and I wrestled, but we had to get moving. I miss my friends. I have included the poem I wrote for them. Please have Glorfindel put it in my book.
And we had a battle with the orcs that was awful. But we scared them away. Did you know that storms are louder in the mountains? I didn't like that.
Momma is shooing me to bed so Goodnite and I hope to see you again soon. I begin my training in a few days, so I won't have much time to write
Love Estel