Rating: General
Warnings: none
Genres: character study, general
Characters: Ereinion, Erestor
Length: double drabble
Summary: Little Ereinion could be obstinate about things. How did people go about melting his resolve? Erestor was new to this, but it did not mean that he was not up to the task…
Notes: This piece is a companion story to Brother Mine. Ereinion (Erin) was ten years old and Erestor (Eros) was one hundred years old. The story takes place in Hithlum, in Fingolfin's fortress inherited by Fingon.
4. Plants
The Dangling-Carrot Approach
"But those are just plants, Eros," Ereinion protested. The argument had been as old as his previous tutor's trying to teach him about plants and their aspects. Surely Master Galadel had told his successor that?
Erestor just stared at the child blankly, then, when the argument truly registered, exasperatedly. Why had he agreed to Lord Fingon about teaching this child? He had been just a messenger from Lord Turgon, and he could have refused the request.
Well, there was no use crying over spilt milk.
He brought Ereinion out to the garden. There he showed the child some athelas, bade him to smell the leaves, crushed some in his hand and asked Ereinion to do it again. Then they visited the kitchens for a small basin and heated water. He dumped the crushed leaves into the steaming container, and a unique fragrance went up as expected.
Ereinion's eyes lit up. "Can we bring it to the study, Eros?" he pleaded. "Perhaps we can have it every time too?"
"Could, Erin, could," Erestor admonished, but he was smiling. "So now you would learn some more about it and its brethren?"
The child nodded eagerly. Erestor smirked to himself. One problem solved.