The Littlest Warrior

As Lord Elrond searched through Estel’s chiffonier looking for his nightshirt, the littlest Elrondion splashed merrily in the bathing pool. Warm water from the underground springs flowed freely from the open spigot and Estel delighted in watching the bubbles in the water spring into life. Like most little boys, the child was almost always reticent to bathe, but once in the pool it was near impossible to get him out; there was something wondrous about splashing water all over a room and not getting in trouble for it. As he played in the water he began to sing a children’s song taught to him by his favorite teacher, Erestor. But somehow in the middle of a verse, the song suddenly changed to one that was somewhat less favored by Erestor or Elrond. Estel, much to his father’s chagrin, was now singing a particularly ribald Dwarven drinking song.

"Dere once was a Lay-dee who slipped in to Mor-i-a
Her bid-ness dere was un-told
Da Dwarves dey a-dored her
Loved and per-sued her
Wit’ dwar–ven men she was bold…"

“Estel!”

“Yeth Ada?”

“Where in the world did you hear such a song, wait, let me guess – your brothers sang it for you?”

“How did you know Ada? Ro and Dan taught me allll da words, wanna hear da rest?”

“No!” the Elven Lord shouted, face flushed with embarrassment.

“Whas the matter Ada, don’ you like da song? Estel innocently questioned. "Roh said all da dwarves sing it to da liddle dwarves to put them to sleep at night. Iss a lull-a–by.”

“Your brothers told you that song was a lullaby?”

“Yeth.”

The ancient Lord had to bite his tongue as he prepared to speak to Estel; after all, it was not the little one’s fault if he had two derelict reprobates as his role models. Elladan and Elrohir would get the dressing down of their lives when he caught up with them. How dare they teach his laes (baby) that unconscionable song! Oh yes, Colwandë would get a nice respite from his duties, for he would have those two miscreants mucking out the stables for the next five years as punishment for their behavior.

“Estel, I want you to promise me that you will never sing that song again, all right?”

“Why not Ada, whas wrong with da song? Don’ you like it?”

“Estel…please pen neth, this song…” he struggled for the right words to use…

“This song is not a lullaby pen neth…it is a grown-up song, a VERY grown-up song, and not something that a good little boy would sing…your brothers should have never taught it to you.”

“Iss a bad song Ada?” Estel asked incredulously.

“It is a bad song for little boys pen neth. I think your brothers were trying to play a jest on me…did they tell you to sing it for me?”

“Dey said I should practice it Ada, dey said if I got weally weally good at it dey would let me sing it in da Hall of Fire.”

“I see.”

Estel’s face took on a look of sudden sadness, as he looked up with water soaked lashes, “I not gonna sing in da Hall am I Ada?”

Elrond smiled gently at the child, the boy so much wanted to be like everyone else, it angered him that the twins had unthinkingly used Estel to play a joke on Imladris’ residents, and now the boy was disheartened to find that he would not be allowed to sing in the Hall like everyone else. Perhaps 5 years cleaning the stables was not enough…10 would be more appropriate, after all they were elves, 5 years to an elf was nothing!

“How about this…what if I teach you a different song, a better song, and you can sing that in the hall?

“Woud you Ada, woud you teach me a song I can sing for evva one?”

“I would be delighted to Melyanna, I will teach you a song my Naneth taught me when I was very, very young. My brother and I used to sing it to each other all the time," he said wistfully.

“You have a brudder Ada? I dinna know you have a brudder; whas his name? Where is he Ada, can I meet ‘em?”

Elrond momentarily paused; the truth had come out of his mouth before he thought, and he had not anticipated having to answer such sensitive questions. Elros had been gone for over a thousand years, and yet the pain in his heart was still fresh, as if he had gone only yesterday. The ancient elf thought carefully and weighed his words cautiously. He knew that sometimes answering a question for Estel only elicited more questions, and he did not think he was up to it emotionally. Understanding the child as he did, he knew Estel was not one to hurt others or persist in making them sad, so he sat on the edge of the pool with his tired bare feet in the warm soapy water, and answered slowly.

“It is not something that I like to talk about tithen pen, because it makes me very sad to think on it. I am afraid you will not be able to meet my brother Elros because he is no longer with us; he died many, many years ago. I truly wish that you could have met him Melyanna; I know that he would have loved you just as I do.”

Estel stood up in the pool and despite his dripping form placed his arms around his father’s neck and gave him a tight squeeze. Crawling up onto his father’s lap he gave Elrond a mushy kiss on the cheek, and softly patted his father on the back offering his sympathy.

“Don’ be sad Ada,” the little one said “just t’ink about all da good times…all da nice t’ings you did wit’ him…like singing.” “Teach me da song Ada, ‘den I can sing it wit’ you like El-wose did, den you won’ be sad any more.”

Elrond was hard pressed to argue with the child’s logic. Over the many years following his brother’s death he’d found that he was most at peace when he thought of the wonderful and sometimes foolish things the two of them did in their youth. Often, when he was alone in his chambers or walking at night in Celebrían’s gardens he would sing that song, and discovered that the worries of the day seem lifted from his shoulders. As Elrond looked at the child, the immense sadness he felt in his heart was reflected in his eyes; as hard as he tried he could not conceal it and Estel noticed it immediately.

“Don’ be sad Ada,” the little one chided. Patting his father gently on the cheek he added, “I know how to make you smile Ada…I make you feel better.” Squirming over from his father’s lap he scurried away, standing just out of his father’s reach. With his little bottom still dripping from the bath he graced his father with a huge smile and yelled, “Catch me Ada! I bet you cannot catch me!” and then went racing towards the door of his bedchamber naked as the day he came into Arda. Elrond was caught completely off guard; Estel had his hand on the door latch before the ancient elf could get his bearings, and rise from the side of the pool to chase the little one down.

“Estel Elrondion do not dare go out into that hallway!” he yelled after his naked prey. But Estel was off and running. Through the door and down the corridor he ran; laughing and giggling at his father’s shocked expression, and his own nakedness. Quickly grabbing a drying cloth from the peg on the wall Elrond chased after him, occasionally slipping on the wet footprints Estel left in his wake, and nearly tripping over his own robes. Down the corridor the two went, Estel ducking and dodging with Elrond trying, and losing, the battle to maintain his dignity, while he tracked the little naked demon through the house. As Estel reached the top of the stairs he ran headlong into Erestor’s knees. The stunned Seneschal stood aghast as Estel stopped and bowed, then ran around him and headed for the stairs, yelling over his shoulder as he went “Mae go-van-nen ‘Westor!”

As Elrond rounded the corner he shouted at Erestor “Catch him! Do not let him get past you!” But it was too late, Estel was gone and to Elrond’s shock it looked as if the child was headed for the front door. Erestor whipped around and made a grab for the tiny naked hell raiser but alas, he was not fast enough, and Estel just squeaked past his grasp. Unfortunately for the Seneschal, the quick turn and lunge left him off balance, and he landed on his stomach on the stone floor.

Elrond, who had been coming fast, had just enough time to gather his robes up and away from his feet as he was forced to jump over the now prone counselor. Landing with catlike agility on the stairs he looked on in horror as Estel’s little backside disappeared out the front door. Taking the steps two at a time Elrond could hear the loud laughter of male voices mingled with Estel’s hysterical giggles outside the door. Just as the elf lord reached the bottom of the stairs, he looked up to see Cilinwë entering the portal with Estel draped under his left arm like a sack of grain – bottom side facing forward, face towards the door as Estel enthusiastically waved good-bye to the elves that remained outside . Trying hard to conceal his laughter Cilinwë gracefully placed his hand over his heart and bowed slightly to Elrond, “My Lord…I believe you…misplaced this.” Biting the inside of his cheek to help maintain a straight face Cilinwë handed over the squirming bundle under his arm. Elrond, face flushed from traversing the stairs so quickly wrapped the drying cloth around the giggling little Adan child.

“Hannon le Cilinwë,” the elf lord said breathlessly as he positioned the still squirming child in his arms.

“As you can see, he can sometimes be a handful.”

“Yes my Lord,” Cilinwë replied as he glanced up at Erestor who was still lying on the floor at the head of the stairs. “I can see that sometimes even the best of us ‘fall’ under Estel’s spell.”

Following Cilinwë’s stare Elrond could not help but smile at the inelegant condition of his chief counselor. Erestor was only now picking himself up off the floor and Elrond’s grin was all Estel needed to see.

“See Ada, I told you I could make you smile.”

The Master of the house tried to take on a stern demeanor but failed miserably, “Yes…well…mayhaps next time you will endeavor to do it with your clothes on,” he huffed.

But Estel was not fooled, grinning he leaned back away from his father and rubbed both hands across his tummy. “But Ada, you know I cannot make a funny with my clothes on. Did you like chasing me Ada? I was weally fast wassen I Ada, wanna do it again?”

“No!” chimed the three elves almost simultaneously. Surprised at the forcefulness of their declaration the three looked from one to the other, then finally Elrond spoke calmly.

“No, Estel I do not think that a repeat performance is necessary at this time; from the sound of that laughter outside it would seem that half of Imladris has been introduced to your unique brand of humor…I think that will be enough for one day.”

“A’right Ada, if you say so. I made you smile dinna I Ada?” the little one said as he placed his forehead up against his father’s.

Elrond could hold it in no longer, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling he released a belly laugh that could be heard from one end of the hallway to the other. Tickling the boy under his arm he finally admitted the truth.

“Yes you did you little imp, you made your old Ada feel quite silly today,” he said laughing.

“You not old Ada…are you? You don’ look old Ada, not like Gandy, Ada is not old is he ‘Linwë?

“You had better not let Gandalf hear you call him old little one, it would not be polite…you might hurt his feelings.”

Estel thought about this statement for a moment then commented, “You right Ada, I woo’nt want to hurt Gandy…I like Gandy, he makes da sky light up! I better not say that again right Ada?”

“Right.”

“Ada will you teach me the song now?” the child asked as his father continued to wrap him in the cloth as he headed up the stairs.

“Yes Melyanna, I will teach you the song.” And so it was, that as he reached the top of the stairs he began to sing the gentle lullaby to the clever little babe in his arms.