Chapter 15 The Patience of a Tree
Estel met the Warden in a secluded glade just outside the City. "Mae Govannen, Estel. My name is Haldir and I have been charged with your training. It is a great honor to have been chosen for this. My brothers Rumil and Orophin will be helping at times."
Estel bowed low to the Warden. "I can't wait to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. I have seen my brothers practice a lot so I know a little."
"I would not doubt it. The sons of Elrond have always been held in high regard in Lórien, as I am sure you will be one day."
Estel tried to stop the heat from rising to his face at the Warden's comment. Although, in his heart, he knew it to be true.
"We'll start the training light. No need to rush it, but Estel please pay close attention. Some things may not make sense at the moment, but they will later. The absolute first thing you must do is clear your mind. Do not think of anything else, but the task at hand." With that, he settled down next to a tree and motioned for Estel to do the same.
"I want you to close your eyes and just listen and feel the environment around you."
After a few moments, Estel peeped towards Haldir, afraid that he had fallen into a swoon. But the Warden noticed the slightest movement and reprimanded Estel.
"You must learn patience. The trees can teach us a lot of things if you only listen to the words that they tell you. They start out as a small seed but with their patience, their roots dig deep enough to find water and eventually the tops grow to reach the heavens. Let's try again. I will tell you when it is okay to open your eyes this time."
Estel slowly closed his eyes; this wasn't going how he had planned. Haldir told him to take in a deep breath and breathe in the atmosphere of the forest.
Gradually, Estel began to feel like he was one with the trees and the creatures of the wood. He felt like he had been melded into the trunk of the tree he was leaning against, that he was being stretched to his greatest point with his feet stuck to the ground and that his head was as light as a feather floating in the clouds.
When Haldir realized that the first part of the lesson had taken hold of Estel, he told him to open his eyes slowly.
"Now you may tell me what you really thought," Haldir said with a slight smirk.
Estel took a moment to gather himself. Then, he answered haltingly, "I felt like I was a part of the tree. And that it is only a small part of everything bigger."
Haldir nodded, but said nothing. The Lord and Lady had been right about the young human, he was very sharp. Maybe there was some hope that the blood of Numenor still ran true in this young Dunedain.
Haldir reached down and gave Estel his hand. "Let's go for a walk."
Estel had always loved to roam in the forests of Imladris, so he did not think twice about reaching up and taking the elf's hand. Estel felt as if the weight of the last few months had been taken off his shoulders just because he took the time to relax and enjoy his surroundings for more than a moment or two.
"Trees have the unique ability to bend with the wind. If you want to survive this life, you must be able to accept the changes life throws at you. This is a non-compromising position. If you fail to adapt to differences in the world, then there will be no hope that you would ever be able to achieve what you are destined for."
"Everything in nature serves a specific purpose. There is a circle of life that is held in delicate balance, everything feeds off each other and if that balance is disrupted, then all nature is thrown to chaos. Everything is always food for something bigger. This is why you must be careful around Eru's animals. The hunter can very easily become the hunted. You must never let your guard down for any reason."
"Trees are among the most patient things in Eru's creation. Some take hundreds of years to even start growing from the seed. Patience is a well-earned virtue among men. When you achieve patience, you can reach any goal, as long as you don't lose sight of it. And patience is one of the most important things when you begin hunting. You may have tracked an animal to its very home, but all of that effort is wasted if you are unable to wait for the opportune moment."
Haldir had heard Estel's stomach grumbling and told the young human, "I only have one more thing to show you today. Do you hear that?"
"Yes, it sounds like a river."
"You are correct, that is the Silverlode that you hear. Its waters run down from the mountains through Lórien to Anduin. All waters then flow to the sea. Lord Ulmo, one of the mightiest of the Valar is ruler over all the waters. They are his domain and they give him rumor of all that goes on in Middle Earth."
"Look at the waters. Always the current can be seen on the surface, but below that, the water is as calm as can be; steady and unchanging. The water does not concern itself with the time of Men or Elves. Time does not change for the River. Its course may change, but it will always lead to the sea."
"I have been informed that the duty has fallen upon me to reveal to you one of the most important things in an elf's life."