I know Aragorn used the name strider or Aragorn for the entirety of the movie, but until he leaves the elves company he was known as Estel.
Also sorry for the shorter chapter, I felt bad so I wrote a bit more.
I also forgot to say I don't own LotR or Natume last chapter, for those of you who don't know...i sadly still don't own them.
There was nothing else to do; they had already treated the child as well as they could with what they had. The new discovery of what the child was made all three brothers restless, it would be a long journey the next day but they were ready to leave straight away. To wake the boy and beg him for answers, the elves were beginning to lose hope that there would be more children, more and more time passed between the birth of each child and it had been so, so long since the last one. Yet here was another, already at least eight summers old, but there had been no news of his birth. Elladan was actually pacing, tight circles around their camp; whereas for once Elrohir was doing something different, gazing at the fire as if it could hold the meaning of life.
"We should try and get some sleep, the faster we fall asleep, the faster morning will arrive and we can head home where the elfling will be safe and comfortable, I'll take first watch" Estel said, finally breaking the tense silence around the camp, the tension seeped out of the campsite like air out of a balloon. "Estel, an elfling" it seemed to be all Elrohir could say, his face had actually gone pale with stress, and Estel gave a look that conveyed a silent "I know." Somehow it was enough, to know all three were going through the same turbulent emotions. Elladan and Elrohir stretched out their sleeping mats and began to settle in for the night.
I couldn't help but look at the boy; he looked peaceful in sleep, besides the pinched look of starvation he had the same rosy glow as any other happy child. I still couldn't believe what I was seeing, but I hadn't replaced the hood and his little ears were still visible under golden strands. Feeling like this I could only imagine how the twins were feeling, I glanced at their sleeping forms, they must be so conflicted. Joy, sadness and anger were swirling around me like a vortex; I wanted to take up Elladan's pacing. I gripped my hair and forced myself to think of other thoughts, focusing on the fact that the child was here now, he was safe, he would be loved and one day this would all be a horrid dream for him. We would never let anything harm him now, and he would grow and trust and have a family. Finally my racing thoughts settled and I patiently waited for morning.
Natsume's P.o.v
It was morning, I could hear birds chirping and the low grumbling of a quiet conversation, I kept my eyes closed as I tried to remember where I had fallen asleep. There had been two, no, three men and they had given him food and warmer clothes, and had promised to bring him to civilization. Slowly I opened my eyes and was greeted to a canopy of green, the sun was shining brightly today and the leaves glittered like emeralds in its light. Just as slowly I eased myself up, I was sore but I felt better than I had for several days and felt a small gleam of hope spark where before there had been despair. Ellyden? And Eloher? Rushed over when they noticed I was awake, and unlike the last time I looked at them I actually saw them, they were both incredibly beautiful, with flowing raven hair and perfect pale skin and for a moment I just gaped like an idiot. Any words they might have said were lost for that brief period of time I was staring at them and I was shocked for a second time when I noticed they had pointed ears just like mine.
"Natsume?" I was finally snapped out of my stupor with the soft call of my name and flinched slightly; I had just ignored them both for several minutes.
"Hey, hey it's okay, we were just wondering if you wanted something to eat? We are going to be on our way soon and won't be stopping for a while; it would be good if you ate something." One of the twins said gently, I blushed bright red and nodded, embarrassed with my inattention. The other twin laughed, light and happy and without a word went to fix me a plate. They both looked at me as if they had never seen a child before, they seemed genuinely pleased that I was around, which was strange but they were so gentle and happy that it didn't make me nervous. In fact I was ridiculously at ease as I had never been before with strangers or anyone else. It was similar to the time I had met the women in the shop, or I woke in the forest, there was a little part of me that just told me I could trust them. That I could let down my barriers here and I wouldn't be harmed for a misstep, or belittled.
Elahair? came back with a plate filled with dried fruits, breads and jams and cheese, and I ate slowly savoring each piece, I moved my hand to push a stray strand of hair back and froze. My hood was down and my ears were visible, they had definitely seen them. Maybe pointed ears were normal here? It would explain why they never questioned him, but what if they were just waiting to get home to interrogate him? How would he explain? An irrational fear began to build in him and the food that was so delicious before began to feel like chalk in his mouth.
"Natsume?" a voice called gently again and he looked up, both twins were standing there looking concerned, one looked a little bit angry but he didn't know why. He shook his head, he was being ridiculous, they both had pointed ears just like his, and it would make no sense for them to target him because of it.
"Sorry, I was just lost in thought, where has Estel gone?" the one name he could remember clearly from last night and the smoke colored eyes. "He's gone to saddle the horses; they were just passed the clearing." Elladan! explained, he finally remembered one of the elves' names. "We should probably go to join him now, he is likely done and waiting for us already," the other said, and I nodded silently, slightly confused but not wanting to seem strange, who used horses nowadays? I silently padded next to the two brothers and admired how gracefully they walked (not noticing I walked the same way) and I struggled to keep up with their much longer strides. Elladan seemed to notice my struggle and asked if I wanted to be picked up, I shyly shook my head and thanked him for the offer but I was thirteen and was old enough to walk on my own. He seemed strangely sad at my rejection and I doubted my choice all the way to the horses. Estel smiled a huge smile when he saw me arrive next to his siblings; I tentatively smiled back as he wished me a good morning. I looked past him and noticed the three horses just a ways away, they were huge in comparison to my tiny body and I had no clue how I was going to ride one, let alone get on!
Estel kneeled down to my height, and I silently noted he had rounded ears, and looked me in the eye as he spoke, "would you mind riding with me?" his voice and soft respect for me made the tiny spark of hope catch and grow just a little larger as I nodded shyly, almost all fear gone. Gently, gently as if carrying a baby bird he lifted me up and placed me on the horse, and as graceful as his brothers hopped up behind me. With a gentle kick and a word of encouragement they were off, the speed of the large animal took his breath away, and a wind that smelled of flowers caressed his face. He couldn't help it, he laughed in excitement, and the sound was like crystal, carried on the same wind that caused it.
Estel P.o.v
I couldn't help the large grin the appeared on my face as the little elfling approached with my two brothers. He looked much more comfortable in their presence than he had before, and to see him calmer filled me with relief.
"Good morning Natume," I greeted him and he smiled softly in return, his gaze didn't settle on me though, it rested on something just past my sight and I realized he must not be used to horses. I rested on my heels so he wouldn't have to crane his neck up to look at me, "would you mind riding with me?" he nodded. I lifted him up carefully onto the horse, almost faltering at how lightweight the boy was and moved swiftly to join him, making sure he was secure in front of me. I glanced back at the twins and almost laughed at the put out expressions on their faces, no doubt they had wanted to ride with the elfling. With a gentle kick I urged my horse to move towards Rivendell, setting a quick pace, eager to be home. I almost started at the sound of a high pitched tinkling of laughter coming from in front of me. The boy leaned forward as if to better enjoy the wind on his face and without a care continued to laugh merrily. I grinned another large grin and prayed that my brothers behind me could hear the joy in the child's carefree giggles.