Chapter Ten: Breakfast Fit to Burst

The day dawned clear and fresh. Aragorn opened his eyes but lay still, his roving sight passing over every feature of the room in which he had awakened. He took in ceiling, wall moldings, window frame; the golden light among waving treetops seemed to call him out to revel. Even so, he continued his review of his surroundings until his gaze fell upon the smiling face of Elrond, sitting close by the small bedstead.

"Good morning, little one," he said kindly. "Did you sleep well?"

"Ye-e-es," murmured the boy, unsurely. "Momo?"

"She is with the lady Lynael," said Elrond, stressing the name. "Do you remember the lady Lynael, the healer?" The child stared and said nothing. "Will you come with me to break our fast and then walk around the house and the gardens?"

"Yes," said the boy again, more steadfastly now. "And Momo?" he asked, watching Elrond's face.

"We will see her later. I think she is still resting, very tired from riding so hard all day yesterday. Remember? You came here with her on Rogarin, with Glorfindel and the twins and some of the Dúnedain rangers." He answered slowly, studying the boy's response to each name and image.

"Rogarin!" exclaimed the little one. "I must take care of Rogarin, Elladan says." He threw off the covers and jumped up. "I am ready. I am hungry."

Elrond laughed. "That is very good." He took the small hand in his. "We will go to the kitchen and see what there is on the fire. What do you like to eat?"

"Bread, milk, meat. Apples. Honey!" his eyes sparkled. "Hurry, Ada!" He pulled at Elrond's hand, and did not perceive his start at the name slipping so easily from the child's lips.

"Of course," he thought, "he heard the twins calling me Ada, but he does not mistake this for the name he has given always to the chieftain, his sire… Dada… And he is destined to address me so, henceforth… This is still strange, still so new…"

As they went along the halls and galleries, the boy chattering happily and asking one question after another, the elf-lord pointed and explained with growing delight. They entered the kitchen flushed and laughing, and all who were sitting or serving paused in wonder at the sight. Some there were that could not remember ever having seen the Lord Elrond laugh aloud, and now did not know if they should lower their eyes or move away or go on as if nothing were amiss. And the small boy, a mortal, hanging from their master's hand and hopping back and forth on one foot… Elrond laughed again at the expressions on their faces. "We have a hungry boy here," he said. "We must feed him, or he will eat us instead."

An elf-woman reached out for his hand and led the boy to the laden table. She lifted him and placed him atop a stool, and pointed out different appetizing dishes. "There is a hot, thick gruel, sweet and tasty, good for a cool morning. And these cakes here, with butter and cream…"

"Yes, please," said the child happily.

"I will leave him here with you, Vaneta," said Elrond. "I must meet now with the company. One of my sons will come for him soon, after he has filled his belly-pack." He tickled the boy's midriff, making him squeal with laughter. "Eat, my boy."

"Rest assured, my lord, that he will roll out of here like a fat little barrel," laughed the cheerful cook. "So, sit, my boy, and begin with the gruel." She ladled out a bowlful of the thick, fragrant cereal and set it before him. "Put in a little of this berry sweet," she said, reaching the small ceramic pot and placing it before the child. He laughed, his mouth full, at the funny face molded on the pot, and the big ears that served as handles. "Do you know Brother Jim Jam, little master?" The child shook his head. "Well, Brother Jim Jam watches out for the food on our table, so that each good flavor stays in its pot and on its plate and doesn't go straying around and out the window, following its airy brother smell… whose duty it is, in fact, to float away and reach out for hungry boys to bring them in to their meal…"

The laughing elf-woman chattered on as the boy ate, taking plates away and putting new ones before him. After the final bit of egg had been wiped up with a scrap of dark bread, she took his hand and led him to a small balcony with a cup of brew. "This is where our fine herbs grow, in these beds and boxes. So we can always have them very fresh and fragrant, to put in our cook-pots. Can you smell this one?" She brought his face to a bushy little sprout with tiny dark green leaves and red specks of flowers.

He breathed in, deeply, and opened his eyes wide. "Haaa!" he breathed out and then purred in pleasure. "Good, lovely. I like it."

"I'm sure you do, and you must come and smell them all, one every day, until you get to know each and every one. This little dearie is called carmilae."

"Car-mi-la-e," the child repeated happily, "car-mi-la-e is good-smelling."

"They all are," she smiled, "but each one different. And each has its purpose, which you will also learn by-and-by. Now sit here in the sunshine and drink your tea." She handed him the two-handled mug. "I will look after my lovelies…" she trailed off into an elvish song while she pondered over each small plant, picking off tiny bugs and dead leaves, and fluffing them softly as she whispered their names. The boy sat enthralled, watching her and sipping the warm drink.

"Vaneta…" A shadow seemed to fall on him suddenly.

"Yes, dear?" She straightened up and turned to him. "What is it?"

"Where is Momo?"

"Ah, by Momo you must mean the Lady Gilraen, your sweet mother. She is with her friends the healers, the ladies Lynael, Larat, and Milia. They came early for a tray of goodies to tempt her to eat, upon awakening. We sent her the finest bits we had… not as much as you ate, little master!" The kind eyes searched his, and she took his hand. "She is well, my pet. She is only resting because she is still very tired. You will see her quite soon, do not fear." She pulled him up and twirled him around. "And you must never, never be sad on such a lovely sun-shiny day! You must be warm and happy as each little bird and flower, blessed by our great sister Arien the Sun…"

They twirled one final time, laughing, and came to a stop. They raised their faces and the sun poured over them like warm honey. "Close your eyes," she whispered. Hand in hand they stood for a timeless moment, and so they were when Elladan came out from the kitchen. He caught himself and smiled, for they made a tender picture.

"Good day, little cousin," he said finally. "Have you eaten your fill?"

Little Aragorn leaped into the tall elf's arms. "Yes, Elladan! Very good food, and Vaneta smelled me car-mi-la-e," he spelled out. "She will show me all the plants, by-and-by. Is that so, Vaneta?" he turned to her for confirmation.

"Of course, my dear. You must come every day and smell a new one." She patted his cheek lovingly. "You are a precious boy."

"But now we must go to work," said Elladan with twinkling seriousness. "Remember? We must go see Rogarin, and tend to him."

"Oh, yes," said the boy intensely. "We must search him for cuts and bumps, and we must wash him and brush his coat, and comb his mane and his tail."

"Such a lot of work for a little boy!" laughed Vaneta as they went back in through the kitchen, now empty and quiet.

"I am learning. Elladan is teaching me," the child's simple words seemed to hang in the air, long after they were gone.

"A precious boy…" Vaneta swept a cloth over the table top, and took up her elvish song again as she returned to her herb garden, and the warm autumn sun.