Chapter 24 A Game of Cat and Mouse
After a short break, the Elves motioned for Estel to stand back up on the log. Then they too climbed up on the log, one elf on each side of Estel. "We have a feeling that you will enjoy this next exercise. It is actually part of a game that young elves play. The point of this game is to get around your opponents without falling off. But if you fall off, you are out, last one standing wins."
Estel grinned. This would be fun; at last, if he accomplished this, he would have something that he could possibly challenge his brothers at. "Sounds easy enough."
Rumil started off by counting down from 5. Estel had been sizing up the brothers and decided to try to get around Orophin first, all the while Rumil was trying to get around him. Estel lasted longer than the brothers thought he would, but soon fell off. His sense of balance was a bit thrown off by being sandwiched between the two elves.
Estel took a spot on the grass and watched as the two brothers duked it out. After a while longer, his brother swiftly knocked Rumil off the log. Orophin jumped up in the air on the log and grinned down at the two sitting in the grass and softly jumped down to join them.
"That was fun! I want to play again!" Estel quickly exclaimed after the duel was over. The Elves exchanged hidden smiles, of course he did, so the trio jumped back up on the log and began the game again.
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Back in the City, the Elves and Rangers were amazed to hear the sweet sound of Estel's high-pitched laughter mixed in with the deeper tones of the two elves. Aglarmir had been talking with Gilrean and grinned down at her. It was a comfort to them both to hear that sound.
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They played a few more rounds and then finally even the Elves were getting tired because they were always ending up playing each other.
Estel begged with them to play just one more, he could feel that this one would be the one that would be his for the taking. Almost as soon as Rumil finished the countdown, Estel took a headstrong position and turned immediately to face Rumil. Then in one swift movement, he weaseled around the elf. Rumil was so shocked that when he spun around to face Estel, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. Estel grinned. He was finally getting the hang of it. Orophin looked down at his brother in amazement, they had never heard of a human beating an elf at a game of balance, and he wasn't about to let this day be the first. He squatted down so that he and Estel were eye to eye.
"Le orthúriel mhuindor nín. Le thalion ingi orthorthach Im nenth min. I am reigning champion in these woods. I will not let you rob me of that title." The whole time Orophin was grinning at them both. Neither of them had ever imagined that they would have so much fun in training a young Ranger. "You will have to catch me first nauco."
And with that, he quickly turned and hightailed down the log, forcing the elf to chase him knowing that his taunt would get the Elf riled up quickly. Orophin chased Estel up and down the log, amazed that the young boy was not running out of breath. It was all part of Estel's plan to get the elf "tired" so he would be easy to knock off. After a few minutes of doing this, Estel abruptly stopped, causing Orophin to run into him. Estel had prepared himself for the shock, but Orophin was unable to keep his balance and fell right on top of where Rumil was sitting. Grinning, Estel turned a cartwheel and jumped down from the log and joined the brothers on the grass. He didn't want to admit it, but he was now very exhausted.
Le orthúriel mhuindor nín. Le thalion ingi orthorthach Im nenth min = you conquered my brother. You [are] brave to suppose you will conquer me little one.
Nauco- dwarf