The Littlest Warrior

Chapter 3 – Unexpected Guests

Glorfindel groggily rolled over onto his stomach, his arm falling, draped over the form of his companion and lover for many centuries…Erestor. Erestor snuggled closer, his raven hair fanning out behind him over the pillow as he reached to pull Glorfindel nearer. The two elves so deeply settled in their reverie never heard the little knock on Glorfindel’s door.

Estel knocked for the second time on his hero’s door. Again he received no response. Wondering what to do next, he began to think of all the things that his brother’s, Ada, and Erestor had taught him not to do when coming to someone else’s chamber.

“Ada said I must always knock on a door ‘fore I go in”, I did dat. Westor said I must always wait for someone to say somethin’ ‘fore I go in, I did dat too. But Dan and Roh always just knock and go right in…soooo…it must be all right,” he said nodding enthusiastically, "‘sides Glorfy will not mind, he pwamiced me.”

Estel stood on his tiptoes with Nif tucked securely under one arm and reached for the latch on Glorfindel’s door. Stretching as far as he could, he still could not quite reach it. Unlike his door, where the latch had been purposely placed lower, Glorfindel’s door latch was just out of his reach. But Estel was not to be denied; Asfaloth awaited, and he was determined to get to Glorfindel. Scanning the corridor Estel looked for something…anything he could use to reach the latch.

The hallways of Imladris were almost as elegantly appointed as the rooms. The highly polished quarry stone floors were covered with expensive floor runners and rugs. The walls were lined with extravagant tapestries, and elaborate multi-tiered candle stands were softly glowing in the dim light of early morn. Heavy trestle tables rested against the walls at varying intervals, and delicate hand painted pottery graced their tops. Positioned here and there were life-sized statues of important historic figures, and vases, heavy with the flowers of Imladris’ many gardens, adorned pedestals designed specifically for them.

To the right, when one faced Glorfindel’s door, sat one of the many heavy ornately carved wooden chairs that graced the home, and to the right of that, one of the heavy trestle tables. At first Estel thought that he could stand on the chair and reach the latch, but alas it was too far to the right. All he needed was something that would give him three more little inches…if he could just find a way to move the chair over a bit he would be able to reach the latch. Placing Nif on the seat of the chair Estel tried gamely to pull the chair into place, but no luck, it was just too heavy. Moving around to the other side, between the chair and the table, he thought that perhaps he might be able to push it over, but again the heavy chair would not budge. Estel sat on the floor pouting; he had tried everything and still could not get to the latch. He sat there sulking for a moment then reached up to the seat grabbing Nif, and tried to console himself.

“Nif, I have tried evathin’…I cannot reach the latch”, he said forlornly to the tattered old rabbit, “if the El’s were here dey would open it for me…or at least lift me so I could reach it.”

He whispered despairingly into Nif’s floppy ears, “Evathin’ is too high…or too heavy…and I am too liddle.” He sat there, momentarily frustrated with his predicament, and then his little temper flared…

“I am not too liddle!” he declared emphatically. “Ima big boy and I am gonna ride Affaloff!”

Pouting, he pondered his situation and again sought counsel with ‘Nif the Wise’ as to his options.

“What should I do Nif? Dere is no one around to help me, if I just had someone to lift me up I could pull the latch myself.” The rabbit stared back at him sympathetically, and seemed to understand his dilemma.

“You would help me if you were bigger…right Nif? Right. I wish you could lift me up Nif, ‘den I could get inside and…, NIF you can lift me!” Jumping up from his spot on the floor Estel kissed Nif on the top of his head and carefully folded the bunny in half. Placing him just beside Glorfindel’s door he stood on the doubled over bunny and…Yes! His fingers just reached the latch.

“Hold on Nif…I can almost get it…”

Inside the room Erestor stirred from his sleep. Turning over beneath Glorfindel’s heavy arm to lie on his stomach, his head snapped up as if it had been jerked by some unseen source. The early dawn light was just beginning to filter into the room, and he closed his eyes against it knowing that he would soon have to wake completely and start his day. Faint noises from the corridor had awakened him, but knowing it was still too early for the household staff to be about; he attributed the sounds to one of the occasional field mice that would enter the home, and reminded himself to instruct the staff to place more traps in the appropriate places. Allowing his head to drop back to the pillow he snuggled closer to Glorfindel and fell immediately back to sleep.

Estel’s tiny fingers just managed to reach the lever; with a little hop up he looped them over and pulled the latch down, releasing the lock on the heavy door.

“Got it Nif!” Stepping off his bunny he quickly shook him out and brushed him off.

“T’sank you Nif, you are the best friend anybody could ever have,” he said kissing the bunny’s head again. Nif just seem to smile back at him; content that he had helped. Once again tucking the rabbit under his arm Estel slowly pushed the heavy door open just a crack. Peering into the dimly lit room he could just make out the end of Glorfindel’s huge canopy bed and one very large bare foot hanging haphazardly off the edge. He slipped inside the room and quietly pushed the door closed. From Estel’s level everything seemed to tower over him. His eyes gradually became accustomed to the light as he peeked around the table and chairs that were positioned near the door to the chamber. Padding his way quickly and quietly across the space, he reached the side of the bed and stood peering into Glorfindel’s half-lidded eyes. Touching him gently on the arm he whispered…

“Glorfy?” Gently shaking the warrior he repeated himself a little louder, "Glorfy?” Glorfindel softly snored on, but Erestor’s head came up like a shot. Gazing around the dimly lit room with sleep filled eyes; he could just see what looked like something furry at the side of the bed. Leaning over Glorfindel’s back to get a better look, he was astonished to see two long-lashed big silver eyes and Estel’s curly little head.

“Estel?” he questioned sleepily.

“Mornin’ ‘Westor,” Estel piped cheerily.

Erestor answered drowsily, “Estel…what are you doing here sweetling? Is something wrong?”

Fairly bouncing up and down with excitement Estel answered, “I go ridin’ wit’ Glorfy today ‘Westor…don’ you ‘member?”

Glancing out the balcony doors Erestor guessed that it was somewhere close to dawn. He fell face first into his pillow and mumbled to no one who could hear…“Glorfindel…when you awake, I am going to kill you.”

“Wha’ did you say ‘Westor?”

“Nothing sweetling…nothing at all, come, climb up here, and let us have a talk.”

Estel threw Nif up onto the bed and again, using the side rail clambered up and over Glorfindel to sit at Erestor’s side. Glorfindel stirred only briefly, and settled right back into snoring.

“Now,” Erestor said softly…"let us have a look at you.” “What is all this you have on little one, did you get dressed by yourself?”

Estel nodded enthusiastically, “Umhumm…I got dressed all by myself…and…and I got my tunic on all by myself see?”

“Yes sweetling I see…but, what is this?” Erestor gently tugged on the waistband of Estel’s leggings.

“My nightshirt…”

“Why do you have your nightshirt on little one?”

“iss helpin…”

“Helping what sweetling?”

Estel looked at Erestor as if he should already know the answer to that question, then sighed and placing his little fists on his hips stated with a huff…

“helpin’ keep my breeches up ‘Westor, dey woo’nt stay.”

Erestor tried to stifle a laugh, “Sssshhhh, little one you will wake Glorfindel.”

Estel rolled his eyes to the ceiling and gave Erestor his best exasperated look, “Dat’s what I wanna do ‘Westor…Glorfy has to get up now, we goin’ ridin’.”

Erestor turned his head and hid his smile behind his hair, he could tell that Estel was quite serious and he did not want to make light of the little one’s plans by laughing at him, but the time had come to set Estel straight.

"Estel…do you not remember what your Ada said to you last eve?”

Estel looked at Erestor puzzled; searching his memory he finally gave up and answered…

“Ada said lots of t’ings ‘Westor…which one?”

Erestor took a deep breath and settled his gaze on Estel, “Estel do you not remember your Ada telling you that you had to have your lessons with me, go to story time with Lore Master Canúmion, take your nap on time…and then, and only then you could go with Glorfindel for your ride…do you not remember that little one?”

Estel began to pout and looked up shyly at Erestor as he began twisting his little fingers in the bed covers.

“Do you not remember?” Erestor prompted.

“Umhum.”

“And as you can see little one it is barely dawn, and you have not done any of the things you promised your Ada you would do today.”

The boy’s big silver eyes filled with tears, "But I wanna take my ride,” he said as they began to roll down his face. Erestor gently caressed the child’s cheek and tilted his chin up so that he could look into the boy’s eyes…

“Do not cry tithen meleth nín, you will get to go on your ride today…Glorfindel will not disappoint you.”

Estel leaned into Erestor hugging him close and burying his face in his nightshirt. The counselor wrapped his arms around the child, gently rocking him, and began to softly hum his favorite lullaby.

“It is all right little one…here let me help you get out of these clothes…we will go back to sleep, and when we wake we will break our fast with a big meal, and then you and I will get started on your lessons, all right?”

Estel nodded, then stood on the bed, and allowed Erestor to help him out of his outer clothes. Once the child was finally attired only in his nightshirt Erestor reached toward the foot of the bed and retrieved Niphredil. Handing the bunny to Estel he settled the little one under the covers between himself and Glorfindel.

“Comfy?”

“Yeth”

“That is ‘Yes’, Estel…Yes,” Erestor corrected.

“Das what I said ‘Westor.”

The doting counselor just smiled and kissed the top of the boy’s curly head. “Settle down now Estel, try to go back to sleep.”

Estel snuggled down under the covers closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Pulling Nif closer to his chest he turned over facing Erestor. Timidly he reached out and tugged gently on his tutor’s nightshirt. The counselor opened his eyes fully and softly asked…

“What is it pen neth? Do you need to go to the privy?”

“No”

“Then what is wrong little one?”

“I need my blankey.”

“Your sunshine blankey?”

“Umhum.”

Erestor drew in a breath and started to get out of the bed. As his feet were about to hit the floor he heard Glorfindel snort in his sleep. A smile drew across the astute counsel’s face as inspiration hit him. Instead of getting up, he returned to the bed and snuggled down deep under the covers pulling Estel with him. Whispering softly to the boy he told him what to do, and then pulled the covers up over his own head feigning sleep. Estel giggled and rolled over onto Glorfindel’s back. Climbing up on the Balrog slayer he took his rabbit and began to tickle Glorfindel’s ear.

“Glooorfy,” he whispered. Glorfindel batted at his ear as if swatting away an annoying insect. “Glooorfy,” again no verbal response. Erestor reached over and nudged Estel under the covers

”Go on,” he whispered.

Estel finally took control of the situation and pounced up and down on the back of the Balrog slayer.

“Glorfy! Glorfy! Glorfy!”

“What!? What?” Glorfindel called out to no one he could see, his head arching up off of the pillow as the little voice over his shoulder finally drew his attention.

“Glorfy…I need my blankey.”

“Your sunshine blankey?” Glorfindel asked disoriented.

“Umhum.”

The golden warrior threw back the covers and gradually rose from the bed. Fumbling in the near dark for his house shoes he slipped one on, unable to find the other. Pulling his robe by its hem from the foot of the bed, he staggered groggily toward the door dragging the robe behind him. Shifting his tussled hair out of his face, he was half way to the entry before he realized from whom he was taking directions. As cognizance finally claimed him he stopped and slowly turned in his tracks to see Erestor and Estel sitting in the middle of the bed trying to smother their laughter and their grinning faces with their hands. Little by little Glorfindel stood straight, bringing himself up to his full and considerable height. Shaking his finger at them, and giving Erestor a look that said, “You will pay for this later,” he blearily continued out the door to retrieve Estel’s precious yellow cloth.