The Littlest Warrior

For the next 20 minutes Asfaloth briskly cantered up and down the path to the main house with the little king of men astride his back. Estel was giddy with delight as he took his ride on the magnificent white stallion. Each step that the great horse took caused the silver bells on his new headstall to ring as if announcing his arrival and the horse could not have been more pleased. Asfaloth, like his master, loved being the center of attention, and the silver bells accomplished that wonderfully as every head turned to watch him pass. The great horse and the small boy caused quite a commotion as each elf along the way stopped to ooh and ahh. Hearing the ruckus from the door to his balcony, Cilinwë came out to investigate, and was shocked to see the littlest Elrondion sitting high aback the most ornery steed in Imladris. Spying his hero, Estel, toothy grin testifying to his delight, waved, and shouted to the Sword Master…

“’Linwë! Look ‘Linwë I ridin’ Affaloff!”

“So I see young Master, and doing a fine job of it as well!” he called back.

Estel just grinned all the more. Cilinwë had seen him riding…he thought he would just bust! As the horse grew closer to the front door he slowed to a walk allowing the adults to catch up to him. Glorfindel and Elrond were the first ones to his side, both beaming like silly maidens.

“Did you see Ada…did you see? I rode Affaloff, an I wussin’ even scared, did you see?”

The elf lord was literally beaming, as proud this day of Estel as he was the day he put the twins upon the backs of their first horses.

“Oh Estel,” he gushed, “I am so proud of you son, you did a fine job, and you controlled Asfaloth beautifully…did he not Glorfindel?”

“I say Estel, I definitely made the right choice for a new rider, you did a wonderful job tithen pen…and without a bridle or bit! Well done Estel, well done!”

“Excellent work little brother!” Elrohir chimed in.

“Aye Estel, Roh and I did not do nearly as well when we took our first ride…did we Roh?”

“I should say you did not,” added Erestor, “as I recall you cried the entire time and Elrohir joined you in sympathy.”

Glorfindel stood at Asfaloth’s head; gently he stroked the horse’s muzzle and whispered in his ear…

“Thank you old friend, you have made many people very happy this day, most especially Estel, and I shall not soon forget it.”

The great horse just snorted and shook his head, causing the bells on his headstall to ring. All in all it had been a fine day, he had received a wonderful gift, turned a king into a friend, and truth be told…wet seat or not the boy was a natural, he would make a fine horseman one day, Asfaloth was sure of it.

~~~

As the family gathered round, Elrond reached up to take Estel down from the horse and was met with immediate protest from the little rider.

“Do I hafta get down nowww Ada? Affaloff and me are just gettin’ ‘quainted,” then he turned to his tutor for confirmation saying, “right ‘Westor?”

The counselor could only smile, so proud he was of the little one’s accomplishment that he was hesitant to correct him…

“That is a-quainted, Estel, ‘A’-quainted.”

“Right…Affaloff and me are gettin’ A-quainted Ada, do I hafta get down now?”

“Remember little one,” Elrond whispered, “it is close to Asfaloth’s bedtime, you would not want to keep him up and make him cranky would you?” “Besides, remember what I taught you about being a good guest?”

Estel thought hard for a moment and then came up with the answer.

“A good guest never over…over?”

“Over stays,” Elrond supplied.

“Yeth, thas it, a good guest never over stays his welcome.”

“And why is that?” Elrond asked as he lifted Estel and positioned him in his arms.

“So you can visit again!” Estel shouted, as the reasoning found form in his head.

“Will I visit again Ada? Glorfy may I visit again, pwese Glorfy?”

Having learned his lesson about making promises for others, Glorfindel replied…

“Why do we not ask Asfaloth? What say you Asfaloth; may Estel come and visit with you again?”

The great stallion whinnied loudly and bobbed his head ringing his much-prized headstall.

“I think that is a resounding ‘Yes’, Estel. It is done then, Asfaloth agrees, and you may come and visit with him again.”

Estel bounced in his father’s arms, thrilled with this new arrangement.

“Yea!” he called out as he clapped his little hands. “Did you hear Ada? I get to visit Affaloff again!”

“Yes pen neth, I heard…now suppose you bid good eve to Asfaloth so we can get you all cleaned up and ready for the evening meal?”

At that moment Erestor cleared his throat drawing everyone’s attention. Looking at Estel he inclined his head slightly in Asfaloth’s direction and gave Estel a look that said ‘are you not forgetting something?’ The child caught on immediately and set about making things right. Placing his hand over his heart he bowed his head and said…

“T’sank you Affaloff for my ride, I had a good time, an…an,” and then it dawned on him, “an you were a pleasure!

Dan and Roh nearly doubled over with laughter, their little brother was truly one of a kind. As small as he was, he didn’t forget anything that could garner him favor with another. Roh elbowed Elladan in the ribs saying…”He will be using that one for a while brother.”

Erestor spoke up quickly between fits of uncharacteristic chuckling. “Do not dare tease your brother; at least he has remembered his manners. As I recall the two of you slid from the backs of your horses, joined hands, and ran screaming from the paddock, thanking no one.”

“Oh, oh, and do not forget Erestor,” Glorfindel quipped, “the way I heard it, once they reached the house they barricaded themselves in their room and refused to come out unless their father promised to find smaller horses…no one bothered to mention that the little ponies they were riding were the smallest horses in three kingdoms!”

“All right, all right,” Elrond said laughingly, “enough, enough. Estel has made his thank you’s, and now I think it is time to get him inside and cleaned up.” Then turning to the twins he added, “and as for you two, follow Colwandë and Asfaloth back to the stables, you may have the privilege of washing Asfaloth down and making sure he has his feed while the rest of us retire to the house . Come Estel, you have had a very busy day; it is time for your bubbles.”

As Erestor, Glorfindel and Elrond strode into the house Estel was still chattering non-stop.

“I did a good job dinna I Ada? An.. an.. did you see me turn Affaloff ‘round? I held on real tight just like you told me Glorfy…but I dinna pull Affaloff’s hair . An I ‘membered my manners just like you said ‘Westor. I had a good time today Ada…can we do it again tomorrow? Can ‘Linwë come next time? Did Dan and Roh really run and hide in dere room? I dinna hide, Ima big boy right Ada?”

Elrond slowly stroked the dark curly locks away from the boy’s face and kissed him gently on his forehead as they entered the Last Homely House.

“Yes my little love…You are indeed a very big boy.”