Dawn was imminent when Estel stirred again. This time Elrond awoke Gilraen who had, despite her best intentions, drifted into exhausted sleep again a little while earlier. It was she whom Estel saw first when he opened his eyes.

"Ami?"

His mother smiled, tears of relief clouding her eyes as she leaned in to cup Estel's cheek. "Good morning, Estel."

Elrond came to stand at Gilraen's side. "How are you feeling?"

Estel considered this question for a few moments. "I hurt. Did I fall?"

"Twice, according to your foster brothers. And then your horse fell upon you, for good measure," Elrond supplied with a smile. "What is the last thing that you remember?"

Again, Estel took a moment to think, his brows furrowing. "They took me on patrol." He paused. "I remember we were going to destroy some of the orc's tunnels." His eyes widened. "Brethel fell? How . . . is she hurt?"

Elrond shook his head slowly. "I am sorry, Estel. Her injuries were severe. She did not survive. Elladan tells me Brethel lost a great deal of blood very swiftly and died within minutes."

A tear tracked slowly across Estel's cheek. "I do not remember. I do not remember anything after our departure from Imladris. Poor Brethel."

Gilraen glanced up at Elrond in alarm but he laid a restraining hand upon her shoulder before speaking to both of them. "You received a blow to the head. It is usual to be unable to recall events just prior to the injury. Often the memory clears with time but occasionally it never returns. Do not let it worry you unduly."

"My head does hurt. And my chest," Estel noted.

"You have cracked a rib and broken your arm. I believe those injuries to have been caused by Brethel's fall and they are not serious. I can give you something for the pain and then you must sleep. The best treatment for head injuries is rest. You will not be hunting orc again for some time." Elrond moved to the table where his herbal had been placed, along with various other items required to treat his charge. There he prepared a cup.

Gilraen stroked her son's hair. "I have no recollection of you seeking permission to attend your first orc hunting expedition. Whatever made you go with your brothers? You are still too young to undertake such a dangerous mission. When I agreed to let you join a patrol I understood that you would simply be watching the borders."

Estel sighed. "To learn to fight one must fight. Orcs do not follow the rules of the training circle. I need the experience."

Elrond hid a smile recalling uttering those exact words when instructing the twins in fighting technique many years earlier. It seemed they had passed on the advice to their younger brother. Thus proving that one should always consider ones words carefully before speaking. (A trait he wished his people had learned much earlier in their history.) He returned with the promised drink, preventing Gilraen from any further chiding. The boy did not need to add guilt to his existing litany of pain.

As he had before, Elrond fed him much needed liquid and was relieved when Estel took it all. "Sleep now, Estel. Your mother and I will watch over you."

It was some indication of the level of his injury that the usually active Estel made no protest. Although the sedative that Elrond had just administered no doubt assisted in that matter.

Once their charge slept again Gilraen turned her pent up ire upon Elrond this time. "What were your sons thinking? He is still a child. He had no business fighting orcs."

Elrond only replied calmly, "By the laws of your people he will come of age within the year. And I believe it was you who told me that we cannot keep them as children forever. Estel must find his own way if he is to take up his father's mantle as Chieftain of the Dunadain."

Gilraen felt restless and not a little trapped, crossing to the window, where the first grey hints of dawn were outlining the mountain peaks above the valley. "I sometimes wonder whether it would be better not to tell him of his heritage. Many of our chieftains did not to hold the position for long."

Elrond watched her, a darker shape against the grey landscape and sky beyond. "Yet that is his inheritance and you are aware that there is more to being Chieftain than the leadership of a small band of scattered warriors."

"Ah yes. The High Kingship," Gilraen sighed as she turned about to face him. "And how do you expect a ragtag band of men to accomplish the claiming of that crown? You and I both know that, barring some miracle, Estel would find it near impossible to wrest power from the Stewards, even if he could prove his right to do so. I fear Aragorn is destined to be just another link in the long chain of hopefuls. Can we not let him live a full and happy life; to die in his bed, surrounded by grand children? His father lived just sixty years and should have lived to twice that age. I washed his body for burial and saw the ruin that orc arrow made of his handsome face." She met Elrond's eyes squarely, adding bitterly, "You must forgive me if I feel no great excitement at the prospect of my son meeting the same fate."

Elrond's own gaze only softened. "I understand your wish to keep him safe. What parent would not want to protect their child from the many dangers in this world? But he will soon be free to make his own way in life. He deserves to know all of the paths open to him. We have no right to withhold the details of his lineage."

Gilraen returned to the bedside to stare down at her son, her ire spent.

Elrond considered for a moment. "Lady Gilraen, you have known me for many years and are aware of some of my giftings. Will you trust me now when I say that I foresee a nexus of important events, of which Aragorn will be a part?"

"What do you see," the lady demanded, her interest piqued.

Elrond shrugged. "Nothing clearly. It is strange, for the actual events seem to be shrouded. But I know that many threads are coming together and the result of their confluence will decide the fate of all of Middle earth, not just your own people."

"Will this happen soon?"

Elrond shrugged. "What is 'soon'? 'Soon' to an elf is not the same as 'soon' to a mortal. I only know that it will happen within your son's lifetime . . . however long or short that may be."

"You ask me to trust a great deal upon very little information, Elrond." The lady searched his face for long moments. "But you have cared for my son as your own since your own sons brought us here, and he only a babe in arms. Estel was so young that he has no memory of his true sire. Yours is the only father's love that he has ever known and you have been unstinting in the giving of it. I will trust you to continue to do so." Then she pleaded, "Do not betray me."

Elrond touched a hand to his heart. "Never, lady. You have my promise that I will continue to nurture and protect your son with all my heart and strength, whatever path he chooses."

"I will hold you to your promise Elrond, son of Earendil. May it remain as true and constant as the morning star that sired you."