Summer 6

(Disclaimer: I don't own these characters and I make no money from this writing.)

A.N. Sorry for the – er – slight delay there. More to come, I hope.

Estel

"Papa! Papa!"

It's no use. The sound of the river is too strong. No one can hear me. I have called and called and it is getting darker now. I am so cold. My feet felt burned and now I can't feel them at all, and my hands are red and white and freezing.

How did I get stuck? I don't even remember now. The water noise is like my father's robes, the silk moving as he walks. I know that sound so well, and the soft step of his boots on the floor, coming to my room, coming to save me. But this is much louder and it's filling my head until I can't think any more.

I wish I could help him find me, but my foot is stuck. It went in there easily, between the two stones before I could stop it but now I can't get it out. I almost did, pulling my foot nearly out of the boot but the rock moved and now I can't move it at all. The rock or my foot. Both. They're not moving at all now.

I watch the water fly by. In the middle of the river, the water is slipping so fast away from me, but near the bank, here, it's got little waves and they come towards me, lapping, and lapping, the same little waves all the time. It is making me sleepy.

I would like to sleep now, but the cold wakes me up when I try. This little cave, it doesn't want me to sleep but it doesn't want me to go, either. I think it likes me being here, and it's got me trapped but I don't know why.

"Legolas!" Even an elf wouldn't hear that. I'm sure the water is drowning all the sound I can make.

The sky is so pale blue now, and there are pink clouds and it's the end of the day. If I sit here and count to ten slowly, Papa will come. I know he will. Should I count in my people's language, in the Common Tongue or in Papa's language?

The water sounds fill my head and I can barely keep my eyes open. I look out across the water, to the tall trees all black against the sky. They reach upwards, running towards the sun and it's as though they've been frozen there, as if they once grew really fast and now have to barely grow at all. I don't know if I'm saying it right, or saying anything, but what else can I do but look at them?

"Papa! Please come and rescue me now! Papa!"

The cold wakes me up again. Something is different. I can feel something in me is different now. I feel I have gone a long way away and have just come back for a few moments.

Something brought me here, into the world again. There. It's a light, and it's on the river. But I don't care any more. It may be a boat, or it might be something else, I don't know what. How can they see me, lying here, all dark against the rocks? And if I shout again, how will they hear me this time when they have not heard me before?

I will try. One last time, I will try. I push myself up, and pull back my sleeves to show my white arms against the dark. And I wave and I shout.

The boat slides by. It didn't even pause. I settle back where I was, and wait for whatever happens next. I wonder what it will be like. Where will I go? Will I see my father? And what about my mother? She has not left the world yet, only me. I mean, she's only left me. I'm the one who's going to leave the world.

Another boat, with lamps in the bow, and tall people looking out for me. I cannot even move for them now. They will not find me. I am too small, and I am not elf and I don't glow, not like Legolas. If I could glow. That makes me laugh, me, like a glow-worm, that's what I am, a worm that glows. A small cold worm.

"Estel!"

Someone just called me! Suddenly I don't want to go from the world into whatever comes when you die, I want to stay here and be rescued, and told off, and shut in my room forever, it doesn't matter, as long as it is my room and I am warm and I have some food. I will stay there for ever and ever.

Then a boat comes right up to the bank, and hits the rocks with a big thump, and people are getting out of the boat, too, slipping on the rocks just like I did, when I came here out of all the thunder and lightning. All that time ago.

"Estel! Oh, my son!"

And it is Papa, come to save me at last, and there are my brothers, and they have moved the rock off my foot and pushed my boot back on. And now they are carrying me, and saying things, though I cannot hear them because of the river noise in my head, louder still. I am put into the boat, and it's safe in there, covered with blankets and Papa is there with me, and holding me, and he is warm, and his robes make the same rustling sound as the water. But the water is cold, and Papa's robes are warm and soft.

The boat moves, or is it still the river? I stare at Papa's face, and he is looking back at me and he has a smile on his face. He's rubbing my hands and now he's taking off my boots and rubbing my feet. He's saying something to me but I do not know what, and perhaps it is not to me but to Elladan, because my brother sits down with us in the bottom of the boat now, so it's just as warm as it can be there.

"What, Papa? I can't hear you," I say, or I say it in my head, I don't know. I must have said it.

"You are safe now, Estel. You will soon be warm again."

The boat rocks, and I know there is a just the hull of the boat between us and the river but I feel safe now, safe as I would be in a cradle, except I'm much too big for that now.

Elladan is holding something, a little silver bottle, and I drink. The warmth from it spreads inside, and I am beginning to feel my hands now, and my feet. The boat rocks gently and I am falling asleep, but Papa wants me to be awake. He makes me move towards Elladan, who gives me more of the special stuff to drink.

Then Papa stands, and he gives an order, and we come to the bank where the jetty is, and then everyone is singing. I have never heard so much singing, and everyone in Rivendell is there, on the sward, and they are singing. I feel better, warmer, but still I can't move much. I don't want to be carried like a baby though.

"Put me down, Papa! Please. I can walk," I tell him, so he lets my feet dangle until they settle on the ground, and I stand up. My foot is a bit sore now, but that is better than not feeling anything. I hang on to Papa's hand on one side and Elladan's on the other, and I begin to hear what they are singing.

It is about me! It's a welcome song, and it's got me in it! I don't know whether to look at the ground in shame, because it was all my silly fault and they don't seem to know that, or lift up my head and just be pleased to be here, instead of in that little cave.

"Head up, Estel," Papa says. He must know what I am thinking all the time. "We are so glad to have you back. Everyone here is glad, Estel. Look!"

And I do, and everyone is smiling, and I look up, and the house is full of lights and looks so friendly and it's home! Home.

Papa stops, and I do too. Legolas is standing in front of us, and now he kneels.

"Hello," he says, and he reaches out his hand. "I am glad to see you, Estel. I am glad you are safe."

"Me too!" I say, and Legolas laughs, and then looks at Papa, who is smiling at him.

"Would you do me the honour to walk back to the house with me?" Legolas asks. I look up and Papa nods, and Elladan does too. So I step forward, and by now I can feel my feet and my legs enough to walk back to the house, while everyone sings and the stars begin to show in the sky.

It is magical. It is like a party, and it was almost worth being lost to be found again.

And when I am safe in bed, with all the pillows and blankets, and I am beginning to feel sleepy, and my stomach is just nicely full, then my dear father Elrond comes to sit in the room. Tomorrow he will ask me what happened, but I don't care. Tonight I am back in my own bed, and I am happy and that's enough.