4 days later

Eldarion was packed. His horse was loaded with equipment: water, food stores, a bed roll, first aid kit and extra cloaks and blankets for the snowy pass in the mountains. He strapped his sword to his belt and hung his bow over his back with his quiver full of arrows. He farewelled his father in a style only accustomed to Rangers and then went to say goodbye to his mother and three younger sisters. Eldarion's mother took his hand in her own and pushed a small item into it, looking into his innocent grey eyes the whole time.

Oh how he looks like his father she thought.

"May the Valar watch over you and bring you home to me in one piece." She said glancing meaningfully at her husband. He just smiled sheepishly at the memories of himself returning home frequently injured. If you get injured like he did, he's in for it, considering he gave you consent.

The queen took her son into her arms and farewelled him for the last time and smiled. Eldarion then opened his hand and lying in his palm was the pin of Gondor. A treasure of his people. He smiled at his mum and fastened it to his vest collar, kissed each sister on the forehead and mounted his horse. His father stood at his knee and looked up to face his son.

"Be safe my Tithen Maethor." He said.

Eldarion smiled at the childhood nickname and said one last farewell and rode out the palace gates. The king and queen stood and watched their only sons figure get smaller and smaller into the distance until no visible trace of him remained. They then left to return to their duties. The ride Eldarion embarked on was to take twelve days.

"Oh Valar keep him safe," the queen breathed to the fading sun "keep him safe."

7 days into the ride

Eldarion sat atop of his horse on the first mountain of the pass. It was getting late. He knew he would have to set up camp or risk getting lost in the dark unfamiliar land that he was now in. Never had he been this far from home, let alone out of it. The sky was quickly darkening and the first stars now shon brightly in amongst the fading blue. He gazed briefly to Eärendil, the brightest of all stars. He was tired. Eldarion urged his horse on and found what looked to be a good place to rest.

It was covered from view by a thicket and trees that populated the area. He found a suitable flat place and rolled out his bed roll and stashed his horse in amongst the thicket being sure he had enough space to move. Eldarion didn't even bother with food or a fire that night and lay his sword next to his pillow should he need it. He extended himself like a cat and lay his dark hair and head on his cloak and slept.

It wasn't until he had finally fallen into a nearly deep sleep that he was awoken by a loud neigh and the sound of retreating hooves in the distance. As his eyes became accustomed to the darkness he realised his horse had bolted. He grabbed his sword and went to investigate. There was a chunk missing from the thicket where his horse had been earlier. The moon was shining above, the stars twinkling in the darkness, a slight breeze to the north. The trees were covered in shadows only being lit up by the moons delicate glow. Eldarion was annoyed. The rest of his journey that was to take five days on horseback was to be carried out on foot.

"Come on. Why'd you run?" He grumbled "just my luck to have a horse bolt nearing the end of a travel when I will surely need my steed when with the rangers."

He continued trudging through the darkness muttering under his breath seeing if he could determine the way his horse, Celebarnor, had run. Due to the darkness and forested area it was hard to see much around. Eldarion failed to notice the tree root exposed and the cliff he was approaching. His foot suddenly caught on something sending an instant wave of pain through his left ankle and sent him in a forwards motion. He let out a stifled moan not wanting to awaken any creatures that could be around. The sudden jerk forward sent Eldarion head first down a small, steep, rocky cliff face. He rotated on pure instinct and let his right arm take the full force of impact. An audible snap was heard and Eldarion let out a pain filled cry that echoed around him. As he continued tumbling down the rock face Eldarion was flung from bolder to bolder, stone to gravel, head over heals each time getting slammed into the surface. At last he came to a stop gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him.

Oh Valar it hurts. He thought

He was a mess. Eldarion's right arm was at an awkward angle, his left ankle was double its usual size and his body was an array of black, blue and red markings that covered his entire frame. He was in so much pain, no words were able to describe it. Eldarion wanted to cry but that caused his ribs and head to throb and sent another wave of pain rippling through his body causing him to cry out more. He wanted nothing else but to fall into oblivion but the protest from his aching body said it all.

In the distance the sound of falling rocks could be heard.

"Not again." Was all Eldarion could put together as he prepared himself for another flight.

Rocks from above came rolling down the cliff and once again swept Eldarion further down the mountain and into a fast moving river.

"Help me!" He screamed out as his body hit the surface of the bitterly cold water.

His ribs gave protest and his mouth was filled with water as he was pulled under. Ten metres down stream he managed to resurface and gasped for breath trying to spit out the water that was forced into his mouth before once again being dunked into the currents of the freezing river resulting in more water inhalation. Down the Bruinen he was washed. Eventually after what seemed like a millennium Eldarion was washed onto the shore and he was able to haul himself up onto the banks. There he lay in a tight ball, in a semi conscious state, waiting for Mandos to open his halls.

Elvish used

Tithen maethor - little warrior

celebarnor - Eldarion's horese, silver sun