THREE WEEKS LATER
Eldarion sat in one of the tallest trees outside of the last homely house. He was now completely healed and fit to travel. Eldarion watched as the early morning sun reflected off of one of the many waterfalls in the hidden valley. He had escaped the twins who were out to prank Glorfindel and his father earlier that morning, also he was in no mood for getting pranked yet again. Erestor was always decent company if he wasn't working, which was not often. Glorfindel was always fun to hang out with but was either pranking the twins with his father or avoiding the twins altogether. Basically everyone was always pranking regardless of who the victim was. Eldarion liked it in Imladris but wanted to go home. He knew that his mother and council would be perfectly able to run Gondor without a king for a point of time but it was now bordering on the eighth week.
"Eldarion!" He heard his father's voice from inside the last homely house and descended the tree
"Coming ada!" He called in return
Eldarion skidded through the halls towards Elrond's office following vague instructions from a maid. Once he arrived he stood at the door and listened for any sign of movement. He managed to hear muffled voices so knocked on the door
"Enter." It was Elrond who answered that he was sure of it
Once Eldarion was in the room he stood waiting at the doorway assessing every occupant of the room. The twins were sitting on a sofa in front of the fire place, his father sitting across from them on a singular armchair, Elrond on his right on a separate armchair, with Glorfindel sitting on the floor at the head of a coffee table in the middle of the gathering.
"Come and join us ion nin." Aragorn called gesturing to the unoccupied end of the table and then turned back to the conversation
Eldarion neared the gathering and took a seat on the floor across from the balrog slayer. On the table was an assortment of maps and paths. Eldarion recognised the wild lands around Gondor depicted
"If we all stayed for two weeks, the three of us could head out together to track them down to prevent incidents like last time. Plus you said Celebarnor returned, Estel?" Elrohir said
"Yes he did return but I don't think he'll be fit to ride. And it would be wise for him to go accompanied." Aragorn said gesturing to Eldarion
"If the three of them go out they would have a better chance at locating the others and the twins are familiar with Asher's group as well as the landscape." Glorfindel added
"He could take one of the extra horses from here and swap them once you reach Gondor if Celebarnor is in riding condition. The twins also have knowledge of healing that might come in useful. Especially if he is like you." Elrond said looking at Aragorn
"He is right Estel. You will all want our hides if he gets hurt. You and Arwen don't need to worry about him or us. Times have changed." Elladan finished
"It's settled then?" Glorfindel asked
"Aye. We leave on the morn." Aragorn said
"Um.. If I may interrupt? Why should Ada and Nana not be worried? Also why all the thems? Who is them? And why did you not tell me Celebarnor returned? Also why was he and Asher even brought up?" Eldarion asked. He was told to join but wasn't filled in on anything so was left in the dark.
"Oh yeah, we are leaving for Gondor tomorrow with you're uncles. Elrond has offered to lend you one of his horses for the journey. The twins and you were the thems and will head out to locate Asher together two weeks after we return. The twins have traveled with Asher's group before and know the land in their territory well. Your mother and I should not be worried because the twins say they will look after you. Also you never asked about your horse and assumed him dead." Aragorn replied to his son
"So you are letting me outside of Gondor again? After this time?"
"Well I assume now that you got out there is no way of keeping you in."
"He also did something very similar to what you did his first time out." Elrond added
"We agreed never to tell anyone."Elladan said
"But we all know how good we are at keeping secrets." Elrohir said and winked
"Go and pack you four." Elrond said dismissing them
"Yes ada." The twins and Estel said leaving the office followed by Eldarion
It was the middle of the afternoon by the time they were packed. The twins had told Eldarion to meet them in the stable with his father at that time but he could not see them. Aragorn had walked over to his chestnut mare leaving Eldarion to look at all of the other horses. Most of them were brown or grey colouring all pretty but did not stand out. There was the exception of three white stallions. Eldarion knew them as Asfaloth, Glorfindel's horse and the twins horses which he did not know the names of. The three of them were larger than the rest and had an air of authority. Elrond's mare was also there, one of two palomino. She was also quite large but exceptional to the eye. The other palomino looked smaller and younger. He was very pleasing to the eye and promised to be a large majestic stallion when he was fully matured. He was also quite restless and hung around Elladan's stallion the largest of the whites.
"Ahh nephew you came on time. Sorry for our late arrival." Elladan said entering the stable from the back
"We had to get some things ready." Elrohir said catching up to his brother "Estel could you please let them all into the pasture?"
"Alright gwador. Make sure he understands what you're planning." Aragorn said leading the first of the horses into the pasture
"So nephew have you ever experienced the horse selection process?" Elladan asked
"No. Ada gave me my first horse, Celebarnor. He was my father's spare."
"What did we tell him about giving out horses? Anyway you will stand out in the pasture with all of the horses." Elrohir continued
"The horses will then decide wether or not to notice you." Elladan added
"The horse that approaches you first and allows you to pet it will become yours." Elrohir finished
"Why do you do it this way? Most men just get a horse by looks or pedigree." Eldarion asked fascinated by the new concept.
"You see, when the horse lets you pet it, it shows the horse is not frightened by you and will more often then not accept you as its master." Elladan said
"Oh."
"The pasture is ready!" Aragorn called petting his mare
"Come nephew." Elrohir said dragging Eldarion towards the pasture
Once they were all inside of the pasture Elrohir left Eldarion in the centre of the pasture and went to stand with his brothers. The twins stallions immediately went to their masters followed by Asfaloth and Elrond's mare. They had masters and they knew the twins well. The young palomino followed Elladan's stallion somewhat and stood between him and Eldarion clearly interested in the man. The rest of the horses seemed uninterested and looked at the mortal every now and again but stayed a good distance away. Elladan's stallion also looked at the young mortal with interest. He turned and left Elladan leaving the elf feeling slightly betrayed. The White stallion went and stood next to the palomino and nudged him.
The young palomino looking slightly surprised at the larger horse took a couple of steps forward towards the prince stopping just out of arms reach. Elladan's horse turned around once more and walked towards his masters side. Eldarion watched the young palomino with as much interest as it watched him. He held his hand out for the young horse not daring to approach the young creature. The palomino watched this and took a small step closer, mere centimetres from the mortals touch. Eldarion resisted the urge to lay his hand on the young golden horse and waited for the horse to move. The palomino watched this and tilted his head towards the prince. Eldarion tilted his eyebrow in response. Finally the young horse closed the space between the price and himself allowing the prince to stroke his coat. Eldarion could not actually process what happened in that moment when his hand met the young horse. It was a feeling unlike others he had felt. He was chosen as a leader for an animal by the animal. The horse was his.
"Good choice nephew. Now walk inside. He should follow you." Elladan said walking in the direction of the stable with Elrohir and Aragorn stopping the horses at the gate
"Ok Elladan." Eldarion said breaking contact with the horse walking towards the stable as well, the young horse following him after a moments hesitation
Once the four of them were back inside the stables the young horse went and nudged Eldarion's chest with his head.
"I think he likes you ion nin." Aragorn said approvingly
"Well I like him to." Eldarion said scratching him between the ears
"You were chosen by a very special horse nephew. Elladan will act happy, but he is not." Elrohir said draping his arm around his twins shoulder
"No, I am happy. I'll just miss him." Elladan said gazing at the young horse
"What do you mean special horse? All of them are special. What is his name" Eldarion asked
"You trained him well gwador," Elladan said to Aragorn "he is special because he is my stallions offspring, therefore he was my responsibility. His name is Adasser."
"Oh. I could see if there is another horse. But the name is fitting." Eldarion said looking at his uncle
"You will do no such thing. He chose you. He is also from Ada's mare." Elrohir said
"Quite a high borne horse then aren't you." Eldarion said to the horse
"Hey gwador, has he reached riding age yet? Is he even fully grown?" Aragorn asked now that he knew the dam and sire
"He reached riding age last spring. But he will continue to grow for some time." Elladan answered
"How big will Adasser get?" Eldarion asked
"Probably the same size as my horse." Elladan said "now if you excuse us we have to go serve a punishment for pranking kitchen staff."
"That doesn't surprise me." Eldarion muttered
"Oh yeah, you might want to try ride him this evening as I've only ridden him a couple of times to get him used to it. He'll also require training as he hasn't had much." Elladan said leaving the stable with Elrohir
That evening Eldarion spent hours riding Adasser in the pasture. Adasser was a swift ride and trusted his man, Eldarion was a good rider and trusted his horse. It was this trust that created their bond. That night Eldarion could not sleep, for one he was not tired, but the anticipation of returning home was what tore him away from sleep.
Elvish used
ada - da/daddy
ion nin - my son
gwador - sworn brother
Adasser - Eldarion's new horse meaning lover of mortal men
A/N - I decided to post two chapters to compensate for the time I've missed.