The Littlest Warrior

Nilya’s kitchen was alive with activity. Lord Elrond and Estel entered and sat at one of the many preparation tables at the far wall. Lady Nilya and her staff were busy, each trying to outdo the other, waiting on them hand and foot. It was not often that Imladris’ Lord visited in the kitchens and the wait staff was thrilled that he had included a visit to them in his very busy schedule. Elrond watched Estel, as Estel watched everything else. The boy had no idea that it took this many people to make the meals for the residents of the Last Homely House.

Lady Nilya practically had her own little army. Estel watched intently as the staff went through their paces, moving quickly and efficiently from one worktable to the next. As they reached the final table, the table where he and his Adar sat, they always left some wonderful culinary treat in their wake. Estel’s eyes widened at the sight of Glorfindel’s favorite roast chicken; fire roasted fish, the kind he liked with the rainbow on the side, pan after pan of fresh biscuits and pots of steaming gravy.
One of the kitchen maids was sitting in a corner churning butter, and he could smell the scent of baked apples coming from the oven. Fresh picked green peas, which oddly enough he happened to love, filled two large bowls in the center of one of the cook tables waiting for their turn on the stove, and Lady Nilya herself was rolling out dough for piecrusts.

“Do you t’ink dat will be enough Ada? Don’ you t’ink we should have more pies if we havin’ comp-nie?”
Elrond smiled, and although he knew Estel’s question to be completely self-serving, he too wondered if enough desserts were being prepared. “Lady Nilya, word has come to me this morn that we will be having visitors. I am not certain just yet how long they will be staying, but they will be here in a few hours, and they will no doubt stay for supper.”

“Do you know how many are arriving milord?”

“The best estimate so far is seven.”

“Seven you say? So many.”

“Yes it is quite unexpected, I know that this places and unexpected burden on you and the staff.”

“Do not worry your head about that milord, my ladies and I can handle anything, can we not ladies?”

The resounding ‘yes’ that filled the room brought a smile to Elrond’s face, Lady Nilya was always ready to be of service to him and his house, he made a mental note to speak to Erestor about planning some special way of saying ‘thank you’ to her and her staff.

“Thank you Lady Nilya, I can always depend on you to come through in a pinch. There is one more thing though…”

“Yes milord?”

“Estel has been telling me that he and Erestor discovered a large patch of blueberries and we were wondering if we could persuade you to make us some pies?”

Nilya dabbed daintily at her brow with the hem of her apron, the heat from the kitchens causing her to perspire in a most unladylike fashion. She’d been up and working in the kitchens since before dawn, breakfast was already being served, the noon meal would soon be ready for the table, and although she did not wish to admit it, she was tired, more so than she had been in quite a while.

The last few weeks had been hectic, with warriors coming in at all hours of the day and night needing to be fed, and looking for someone to talk to while they ate their meal and wound down from their watch. Lady Nilya filled both those needs, providing hot nourishing food as well as a ready ear and sage advice for all their woes, and the extra hours had taken quite a toll on her and her staff.

The good Lady absolutely refused to have it said that a warrior could not be properly fed from her kitchens, and to that end she made sure that every meal that went to the table was hot and filling. No warmed up leftover food for her lads, for that is the way she thought of them, as her own. More ancient even than Elrond or Glorfindel, Lady Nilya had seen many of these ‘youngsters’ born, and could boast that she knew many, if not all, of their parents when they too were elflings; and she felt it was her duty to make sure they were properly cared for in their parent’s stead.

Staring now at the littlest Elrondion’s sweet hopeful face she found herself unable to resist, and with a smile that truly reflected her gentle spirit she agreed. “As soon as we have served the noon meal I will personally lead the quest for the blueberries little one.”

Estel grinned from ear to ear, he loved coming to visit the great lady; she never failed to have a big soft hug for him, and she could be depended on for some of the best treats in Arda.

“Tsank you Lady Nilya.” Estel fairly bubbled, “Did you hear dat Ada? We havin’ booberry pie for supper. Tsank you Lady Nilya, t’sank you, t’sank you!”

“You are very welcome sweet one.”

“Lord Elrond?”

At that moment, all heads turned towards the door and the stunning, if grimy, blond warrior who stood bowing in the entry.

“My Lord…by your leave sir, I have a matter of grave import to discuss with you.”

The trail wearied Warden stood tentatively in the doorway, not sure if he had interrupted a private family moment. Elrond rose and walked toward the warrior and Rúmil snapped to attention to give the ancient Lord a proper greeting.

“Maer aur (Good Morning) Lord Elrond, I bring greetings from Lothlórien and the Lord Celeborn and his Lady Galadriel.”

Estel was now out of his seat, and joined his father at the doorway. Half hiding behind Elrond’s leg he stared awestruck at the tall blond warrior. Feeling Estel at his side Elrond smiled down at him and gently ruffled his curly hair.

“Welcome to Imladris Rúmil, it has been long since we have had the pleasure of your company.”

Looking down again, he gently prodded Estel forward and introduced him.

“Rúmil Hesonion O’ Lórien I would like you to meet my son…Estel.”

The look of surprise on Rúmil’s face, however fleeting, was hard to miss. Elrond simply smiled saying, “The twins will explain to you later, now, what news do you bring from Lórien?”

Rúmil’s response was a guarded one, glancing quickly around the room at the bevy of ellith who seemed entranced by his every word, and then pointedly at Estel, he lowered his voice and answered,

“With all respect milord, it is news meant for your ears alone and best delivered privately.”

“I see,” Elrond’s face took on a more serious countenance, “then perhaps we should adjourn to my study where we may speak more freely.”

“Aye milord.”

“Estel, I have to conduct some business with Rúmil, I want you to stay here and have your meal.”

“You not gonna eat wit me Ada?”

“I am sorry ion nín, but Rúmil has urgent messages from your daeradar, and I must find out what they are.”

“Can I come too Ada?” the child asked hopefully.

“Not this time little one.”

Estel knew from experience that these unplanned meetings could sometimes take hours, and he was ready with his argument.

“But who will break fast wit you? An what about noon meal? You said meals should always be shared, I don wan you to eat all by you-self. Iss not good for di-di…”

“Digestion?”

“Yeth dat. Iss not good for dat Ada, you said so. I should go wit you and keep you comp-nie,” he said nodding determinedly.

Rúmil could not help but smile, this child was smart, and quite grown up. He momentarily thought back to the time when Orophin was this size and equally as free with his opinions. Elrond knew at once that Estel’s reasoning was more about wanting to do everything just like the adults, more specifically in this case like him, and there was also the matter of meeting someone new. He had not missed the awed expression on Estel’s face when, for the first time in his life, he encountered another blond warrior. He was confident that Estel was under the impression that Glorfindel, as the only blond in Imladris, was the only blond elf in Arda; a belief that the Golden One, in his vanity, had not refuted. Understanding that Estel’s argument was not entirely made for the benefit of others, the elf lord held his ground.

“I am sorry Estel, you can not go with me this time…perhaps the next time you can take counsel with me, but this time must be private, just me and Rúmil.”

Estel pouted earnestly, and gave Rúmil, who, only moments ago, he had considered as a potential new playmate, his best “I do not like this” scowl.

“But Ada…”

“No buts’,” Elrond said as he gently grasped Estel’s shoulders and turned him around, “go back to the table and wait for your meal.” “Go on now,” he said to the slowly moving child. “Lady Nilya would you mind…?”

“Say no more milord, I will keep an eye on him.”

“Estel when you are finished with your meal I want you to go to the classroom and start your lessons with Erestor and Master Canúmion.”

“Yeth Ada” the little one said dejectedly. Elrond smiled back at the boy as he turned and ushered Rúmil to his private study, as he left, Estel took his seat at the table and stared forlornly after his father. Seeing the little one’s sad expression Adril, one of the lady’s kitchen staff, set a warm bowl of honey drenched porridge in front of Estel. Normally this would have been enough to elicit at least a smile from the boy, as honey, and anything covered in honey, was on his list of favorite things. When she did not receive the expected response, she motioned for one of the other maidens to bring her the bowl with the soft-boiled eggs. This, she knew, was guaranteed to put a smile on Estel’s face, however when she set the egg and a hot biscuit in front of him all she heard was the faintest little “Tsank you Adril.” Seeing this half–hearted response Adril was instantly on her knees at Estel’s side. She stretched out her arms and the little one was immediately off the chair, his face buried in her long silken hair and his arms tightly wound around her neck.

“Ohhh…tis all right Melyanna, you heard what your adar said, you can go with him next time.”

Disentangling the boy from her neck she looked him in the eye saying, “Now will that not be a treat? You will get to sit at the side of your father while he hears all the news of the valley and makes all the business decisions for the day. That is quite an honor Estel, as long as I have been here only the Lords Erestor and Glorfindel sit with your father through his meetings, he must think you to be quite the valuable counselor if he has made such a promise.”

As Adril’s words began to sink in, Estel began to feel a little better, and a small smile played across his face. “You t’ink I should get my wobes weady? Ada always wears his wobes when he sits counsel. An Westor too. Glorfy just wears his breeches, but Ada says dat’s cause he has to look like a strong force by Ada’s side. Should I wear my boo one or my wed one? I t’ink I should wear the wed one, Ada says the wed one makes you look strong…dat’s im-por-tent when you do bid-ness,” he said as he nodded his head vigorously to affirm his assertion.

Adril’s lilting laughter filled the room. This child would be quite the statesman one day, already planning what to wear to counsel to make an impression.

“Well let us not get too far ahead of ourselves,” she chided, “first you must eat your morning meal.”

“Right! Ada says iss the most im-por-tent meal of the day; it gives you en…ena...”

“Energy?” the elleth prompted.

“Yeth, dat. It gives you en-er-gy for the day.”

“Well you sit here then and eat your meal and get all your energy…you never know when your Ada will ask you to sit with him, and you should be prepared.”

“Right!”

With that, Estel went back to his breakfast and Adril went back to her duties, minutes later the staff started filing out of the kitchen headed towards the orchards. Lady Nénilya, who was always the last to leave, stopped to ascertain whether Estel was close to finishing his meal. Seeing that he still had quite a bit to consume she thought it would be all right if she left him momentarily, just to get everyone started with the harvesting of fruit for tonight’s desserts.

“Estel, I want you to finish everything in front of you, I hope to be back before then, but if I am not I want you to go straight to your lessons…understood?”

Obedient as ever, Estel responded “Yeth Lady Nilya, straight to lessons.”

“All right wee one, I will be back in a moment…and do not go near the stove.”

“Yeth ma’mam, no stove!” he said vehemently shaking his head no.

As the door closed behind Nilya, Estel continued to eat his porridge, but unfortunately now that the room was empty and there was no one for him to watch his mind started to wander. His bowl was almost empty and his egg was completely gone; now that his tummy was full he wondered how his Ada was faring with the new warrior.

‘I bet Ada is hungry…he dinna break his fast…he must be weally hungry now,’ the child thought.

‘Mayhaps I should make him somethin’ to eat? But I pwamiced Lady Nilya I woo’nt go near da stove…I bet dere’s somethin’ in da larder I can take to Ada’.

Determined to make sure his father was not starving to death while he listened to that silly warrior and all his news, Estel opened the door to the cold cellar and entered the chilly, damp feeling chamber. The room was extremely cold, the floor and walls were lined with a thick padding of straw, and huge blocks of ice that had been carted down from the very top of the Misty Mountains ringed the perimeter of the room. Some were lined up side by side on the floor and in some places stacked four blocks high against the walls. Deep shelves were positioned between the columns of stacked blocks, and dish after dish of cooked and uncooked food could be seen. Estel searched the room carefully; whatever he got for his Ada would have to be found on the lower levels, as he just couldn’t climb up on the cold and sometimes slippery shelves.

He searched for some minutes before he came upon a bowl of left over cabbage; Lady Nilya had made another batch of the loathsome green leaves just the night before and although his brothers, father and Glorfindel all ate their fair share of it, he had still been faced with a whooping ladle full of the horrid mix. Looking at it now Estel was afraid that it might wind up on tonight’s table, in fact he was sure it would…that is…unless somebody ate it first.

Since Estel did not believe that anyone would voluntarily come in an eat it, there was only one thing to do…he would give it to his Ada for lunch. Taking the bowl from the lower shelf Estel exited the cold cellar and carried the bowl back to the table where he had been seated. Not being a mean spirited child, Estel decided that he would find a way to make the horrid greens taste better perhaps that way his Ada would not mind eating all of it for noon meal. Scanning the kitchen he spied a small shallow bowl filled with a snow white grain on the table were the ladies made the pies. Taking the bowl from the table Estel proceeded to empty almost half of it into the cabbage. Sugar was a good thing, he knew it was hard to come by, but his Ada was worth it.

‘Now,’ he thought, ‘what else does Ada like on his food?’ ‘I know! Lady Nilya always puts those little seeds on Ada’s meat…but she mashes ‘em first’ Looking around the room Estel found the seeds and then searched for something he could use to smash them. Finally spying Nilya’s rolling pin he quickly retrieved it and set about banging the tiny seeds into submission. That done, he searched for the red powder, the one that Lady Nilya said made everything taste wonderful; finding it he managed to dump almost a quarter of the container into the bowl of cabbage before he heard voices.

The ladies were returning. Quickly, Estel grabbed the bowl and his spoon and as carefully as he could he headed out the kitchen door and up the stairs to his bedroom, carefully balancing the almost full bowl. When he reached his room, he set the bowl on the floor, quickly opened the door, scooted the bowl across the threshold, and followed it inside closing his door tightly.

Moving over to his little table, he set the bowl down and carefully began to stir in all his ingredients. With that accomplished his next mission was to find a way to heat the mixture so that it would be warm for his Ada’s meal. Since he was not allowed to handle the coals in the fireplace he decided that the best way to warm it would be to put it on the windowsill and let the sun warm it up. Carefully placing the bowl on the ledge, he pulled the curtains over to hide the bowl from prying eyes. This was to be his surprise, and he didn’t want anyone to spoil it.

His task completed Estel ran to his bathing chamber washed his hands in the basin and quickly exited the room heading for his lessons. As he skipped down the corridor, he was feeling very proud of himself, he had managed to make noon meal for his Ada all by himself, and he couldn’t wait to surprise his father. Meanwhile, as the sun rose higher in the sky over Imladris and shown down ever brighter and hotter on Estel’s window, one bowl of forest green cabbage sat – laced with salt, mustard seeds, and a quarter pound of paprika – sat and turned rancid.