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Title: Ice (#3231)
Author: Vilwarin
Chapters: 3

Archive: Tolkien
Category: Lord of the Rings
Description: A double drabble written for the ICE challenge
Published: 28 Dec 2006
Updated: 01 Jan 2007
Warnings: 
Type: General
Characters: Eldarion


Chapter 1 - Strange customs

It was his first winter in Arnor and Eldarion decided that he hated it. He drew his cloak about him, but somehow the wind managed to sneak under the thick material. It was so cold that even the great lake was covered by a thick layer of ice.

And then there were these people that moved on its surface. Looking closely, the prince detected some strange metal devices under the soles of their feet that apparently helped them to glide on the treacherous ice.

Laughing, they chased each other, played games with sticks and a disk or with a huge object that they pushed over the ice. They seemed to be having a lot of fun. He thought it ridiculous.
Slowly his toes were turning to blocks of ice. The young man had enough of this. He had just decided to leave them to it when a merry voice called out to him.

“Why are you standing here alone? Will you not join us, my lord? You are going to like it, I'm sure.”

She had a pair of those metal devices in her hand. And she was very beautiful to behold.
Eldarion found that he could not say nay.


Chapter 2 - Beware the ice

They walked to the edge and she bade him sit so she could fasten the devices. After she had finished she helped him to stand. 
Eldarion felt wobbly on his feet. Did she honestly expect him to glide on the ice?
Carefully he stepped on it. He took a hesitant first step, then another.
That was enough, he overbalanced and fell with flailing arms onto the hard ice. The lady stood over him, laughing gently. Then she extended her arm to help him up. He took it on pulled her down to him.
Now it was his time to laugh.


Chapter 3 - Not so strange now

Eldarion would not be Eldarion if he were not stubborn and determined. Up he stood again, this time taking the lady's supporting hand like, had he remembered it, he had taken anther many years ago. 
Then she showed him how to glide and he actually found it so pleasing to cover a great distance with  so little effort that he started to laugh.
She accompanied him to a stone and sat down with him.

“Not so strange now, is it?”

Eldarion shook his head. “No, not now. But I find that I do not know your name.”

She laughed, “Erendis.”
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