Echo of the Past

“ Estel, comb your hair. You look like an orc.”

“Estel, wash your face and hands.”

“Estel…”

Words echoing from the past reached into the future as the man once known as Strider stood before the polished surface of his mirror. He saw the boy he once was; wild haired and dirty faced, an image that followed him until his kingship. But no longer. Vain? No. He was the king, and the servants now saw that he did not come to the table with uncombed hair. Besides, he would incur the wrath of his beloved appearing before her as such.