Disclaimer: The characters are not mine and I make no money from writing this fiction.

I hope you'll forgive me these little ramblings, but I am so grateful that people are taking the time to give me encouragement and I want to say a more particular thank you to everyone. Of course you can skim past it to the story below if you want!

Drylith – yes, you dare hope! This thing seems to be taking over my life!

CrazyAZN Kid - Hi! Yes, that's good advice for a lot of writers - thanks! In this case, and at the risk of losing you as a reviewer, I have to say that too much detail would not suit this first person, present tense piece – but detail is certainly an on-going discussion with my beta-reader!

Viggomaniac – it's growing, that's for sure! I keep telling my beta reader- 4 parts – er- 5 parts… Glad you're enjoying it and I hope this part rewards the wait!

Amy Earls – I think Estel heals faster than normal humans – but I don't think he can quite heal himself. Not yet, anyway! Hope the name suits the animal.

Grumpy – thanks – I am really enjoying these two together. There were some lovely clues in the book and the film, so it's enjoyable to flesh those out a bit.

Faerlas – I hope this is soon enough!

Red Minerva – thank you very much for the welcome. I hope you enjoy the other stories – but I really must get my Hidalgo story back on its feet!

Scurvy-dog-girl – yup-poor Estel! He's got a lot of thinking and growing up to do this time. I wonder if Elrond can remember what it's like to be nine!

"Where are your brothers?" I cannot hide the anger in my voice, a sudden surge of unreasoned annoyance at those who should have been protecting him.

He looks up, and there is fear in his eyes, and he immediately comes to their defence. "They were there when it happened, Papa! They said – Elladan said – that he must – ease his passing, that's what he said."

"But Elrohir should have brought you home, not sent you to me! And he should have tended your arm first!" I feel the rest of his arm, to make sure all else is well, and he goes back to watching my fingers on his skin. I must remember, everything I do, he learns.

Estel is quiet for a moment, then says quietly, "I didn't tell him."

"Estel!" I put my fingers under his chin and lift his face. "Why ever not? I told you, you must say if you are hurt. We cannot just know it."

He squirms under my gaze and will not answer until I insist.

"I wanted them both to make my horse better! I thought, since they mend me sometimes, they could mend him! My arm felt all right then." I let him hang his head, and his dark hair falls forward like a mask over his face. He is still sitting in his wet leggings, and he is cold and miserable, and despite his heritage giving him strength, a broken arm still hurts.

"Here, child, let us bind this arm, and dry and dress you, and then we shall see about this horse. Perhaps it is not as bad as it seems."

He nods, and I tend to him as I have not done since he was five. I want to settle him in his bed to rest but he is not to be moved. He will see his horse, and his brothers, and know how everything is with his world before he will allow himself rest.

We walk to the stables hand in hand, he tugging me along, and shouting to his brothers as soon as we are close. There is no answer. He looks up at me, puzzled.

"We were down at the river, Papa. Perhaps they could not bring Ruby back here just yet."

Is he hoping his horse is alive? Did I put that unreasonable hope in him? "Estel – they may never be able to bring your horse back to the stables. They may let him rest there, close by the river. He loved the river as much as you."

"Rest! Yes – I hadn't thought of that! Of course, they will let him rest!"

I curse my understatements, my evasions. We set off again, Estel ahead of me now, bounding away down the hill for a few steps before the pain he carries stopped him. I catch up to him and make him stop.

"You must understand, my son. Your horse may be no more."

He half smiles, a faint remembrance of his childish laughter. Even now, at nine, he has become too serious. "Do you mean he may be dead, Papa? I know that he may. You do not have to hide it from me." And he turns away, walking more carefully now but still purposefully. We descend through the trees, whose pale green spring growth is bright in the sun. It is a beautiful place yet I cannot stand and appreciate it. There are more urgent matters at hand.

By the river bank, we find my twin sons, standing side by side, waiting for us. Estel races to them, and I know he can no longer wait for an answer. Elladan catches him and lifts him up, then sets him back on his feet. As I reach them, I can hear Elladan give him the news, without evasion.

Suddenly, my youngest begins to beat at his brother, thumping him with his left hand, and Elladan has to step back.

"Estel!" I call, anxious for a moment. "Your brother did not do this!"

Elladan looks at me as if I have gone mad. "He knows, that, Father! Let him hit out at someone! It is not fair that he could not keep his horse. You know how they loved one another."

Estel has calmed a little but will not let Elladan, or Elrohir or myself near him. He wanders away, kicking his feet through the grass, and sits himself down on a large river rock.

Elrohir reads my thoughts. "I think it is best we leave him. He will talk to us soon, I know it. He needs to learn this lesson."

"Yes," said Elladan, taking up his brother's idea. "Leave him. We will speak to him later. There is a great lesson for him to learn from today."

"How did this happen?" I ask. "How did his horse die?"

"A bear, Father. A great bear, fishing in the river. I have not seen one there for many years. We were watching him and before I knew it, Estel had jumped from his horse and begun to stalk the great animal. He will tell you he just wanted to get closer, so that he could see the bear better, but perhaps there was also the challenge of it. Before we could do anything, the bear came for him, running through the water. I shot it once with an arrow but it ran too quickly and there was nothing more we could do."

"Nothing," said Elrohir, taking up his brother's account seamlessly. "His horse was closest and despite his fear of the bear, he charged him."

"Charged him? That horse was the steadiest, kindest animal – I chose him for those qualities. How could he find it in his nature?" I ask, but I know the answer. Estel inspires that loyalty in all good creatures, and in all good men.

"He tried to catch at his horse, but he was knocked aside. We saw him fall into the water. What has he done to his arm?" Elrohir looks at the boy, whose silhouette is dark against the silver ripples of the river water.

"It is broken," I tell them, and Elladan looks me in the eye.

"Is it badly broken?" he asks, a tightening round the mouth betraying his feelings. We try to keep the boy from harm but it is a dangerous world for a small human.

"It is bound, and he will not use it for six weeks, if I can prevent it. But it will mend. It is his feelings I am concerned about. He will think too much of this accident. Look – he is tired. We must take him home. Where is his horse?" I think of the days to come and wonder if our care will be enough. The boy misses his mother. Perhaps she could have comforted him better than I.

"We took him away into the meadow and put him out of his misery there. Later, we will take Estel to see him and wish him farewell. Perhaps we could carve a headstone for him? It would make it easier for Estel to know that not all is lost, I think."

My wise sons. I can only think of my youngest son's misery, not of his healing. We stand and watch him. He has picked up some stones and is tossing them into the water. Here is a hard lesson for him to learn.

The river noise fills the valley. The sun spikes the ripples on the river. This is a beautiful place but now, it will always hold the memory of this death.

I must return hope to my boy, for I fear he has lost it.