The Littlest Warrior

The garden at the side of the house was the scene of a major hunting party. Two bold intrepid warriors were tracking the ever elusive and always wily, bunny rabbit. This particular species of herbivore was known throughout the realm as a voracious eater, albeit of lettuce and carrots, and for being deceptively fast and cunning. On their way into the garden, the Marchwarden found an ancient Elm tree whose upper limbs were showing signs of its age. Climbing high into the canopy, Haldir took two thin dead branches and easily lopped them off with his knife.

Back on the ground, he trimmed them and cut them to length, making handy walking sticks for himself and Estel. As he slowly led Estel through the garden, he used his stick to indicate signs that the little forest creature they sought had passed that way. A broken twig, a footprint, grass pressed firm to the ground where the little rabbit had lain to rest. As the two moved quietly through the flowers, the Galadhel pointed out a nibbled on dandelion and Estel was delighted to see that his little rabbit had stopped long enough to have luncheon, and as usual, a stream of questions ensued.

“Look Halli she ate almost all da leaves, do you t’ink dat was enough? She not still hungry is she?”

“I think that was more than enough little one, remember she is very small, she is probably quite full by now.”

“Do you t’ink mayhaps she took some home to her babies?”

“Humm…it would depend on how big they are, if they are very little then she would not feed them leaves and flowers, she would nurse them…and if they are bigger she would bring them out to the flowers to eat on their own.”

“Halli, whas nurse? Whas dat mean?”

The Galadhel had not anticipated Estel’s overwhelming curiosity about everything around him, and became quite flustered. Many centuries had passed since he’d had to deal with that kind of question, not since an innocent Orophin had asked where kittens come from; as he recalled he hadn’t done very well answering that question either. He’d gone through a long and ultimately detailed account of how kittens are conceived and born, only to realize too late that all Orophin wanted to know was how they came to be in Lothlórien. As he stuttered and hesitated, trying to figure out just how much to say, Hírómë came running into the garden.

“Haldir!”

“Shhhh Rómë,” Estel whispered, finger to his lips, “youl scare da bunny.”

”I am sorry Estel…but Haldir you are needed by Lord Glorfindel. He asks that you come at once, and he would like you to take Estel to Lady Nilya…until later,” he said cautiously. Motioning Haldir to the side, he whispered in his ear. “There has been another attack; you are to take the babe to the lady and make sure she understands that she is not to let him out of her sight.” Taking note of how intently Estel tried to listen to their conversation, he spelled out the rest of his message, “…then meet Lord Glorfindel in the w-a-r r-o-o-m.” Haldir nodded his understanding and moved to gather up Estel. “Come little one we have a task to do.”

“Shall I leave my walking stick outside?” the child inquired as Haldir scooped him up.

“No, I have a task for you to do, and you will need your stick. Do you remember how I showed you how to use it as a fighting stick?”

“Yeth,” the youngster nodded enthusiastically. “Am I gonna do some fightin’ Halli?” he asked hopefully.

“Well you never know, but right now I need you to do me a favor…I need you to stay in the kitchens and guard the ellith until I return for you, can you do that for me?”

“Oh yeth, I protect dem for you Halli.”

“This is a very important task Estel, I would not trust anyone but you to do it…you must not leave the ellith alone, will you give me your promise that you will stay in the kitchens and protect them until I come back for you?”

“I pwamice Halli, I won’ leave dem alone, not even for a minute!”

“I have your word then?”

The child placed his hand over his heart and surprised the great March Warden with the intensity of his oath. “I Estel Elwondion pwamice to guard da ellith until you return…an I won’ leave dem for nothin’, under da pain of da waff of Elwond, I PWAMICE!”

“Very well then…come, we must be quick, I will take you to the privy first, for you may have to guard them for a long time.”

“A’right Halli, I do kinda havta go.” Carrying Estel back up the stairs and into his bedroom Haldir caught Hírómë’s eye and nodded toward the terrace doors behind them. The veteran sentry needed no further instruction, he immediately moved to close and secure the doors. Setting the child down in front of the entrance to the bathing chamber Haldir motioned Estel inside to take care of his business and the questions continued.

“Halli how did you know I had to go?” Estel asked as he entered the room.

Laughing, Haldir replied, “I knew because you were starting to do the ‘privy dance’. When Rúmil was your size he used wiggle and shift back and forth on his feet when he had to relieve himself. He never wanted to stop doing whatever he was doing to accommodate his bladder, and I can tell you there were times when he waited too long and wet his breeches.”

“Wú wet his breeches?” the child asked incredulously.

“Aye, that he did, and on more than one occasion,” Haldir laughed. The gate sentry paced anxiously by the door and Haldir urged Estel to hurry. “Come along now, wash your hands so that we can go, the ellith are waiting for you.”

“I comin’ Halli…just need to fix my breeches.”

Exiting the bathing chamber Estel continued to fuss with the laces on his trousers, “Halli could you help me? Da laces won’ work, I don’ know how to make da bow.”

“Of course little one, here let me…you know I used to do this for Rúmil all the time, and then when Orophin came along…”

“Who is O’phin Halli?”

“Ah yes, you have not met him yet have you? Orophin is my other brother…my baby brother.”

“Oh…he da little brudder, like me.”

“Yes, only he is not so little any more, actually he is bigger than I am.”

“Bigger than you Halli?” Estel’s confused look stood testament to the fact that he did not understand how Orophin could be the ‘little’ brother and still be ‘bigger’ than Haldir.

“Yes…,” he said handing the boy his walking stick and exiting the room, “I will introduce the two of you later, and I will explain it to you then all right?”

“A’right Halli, if you say so.”

The three made their way thru the corridors passing the dining hall and making a left turn at the end of the hallway. The entrance to the kitchen sat at the end of the hall, and the wonderful scent of freshly cooked food floated on the air. Estel immediately recognized the aroma of blueberries pies and his mouth began to water at the thought.

Berach, Elrond’s fourth assistant, having examined Lady Nilya, was just exiting the kitchens as they approached. Concerned, that someone might be hurt, Hírómë inquired, “Is everything all right?”

“Everything is fine, the Lady was momentarily overcome by the heat, she is back to her usual cranky self,” he said smiling. “Just make sure you do not try to sample any of that wonderful supper she is preparing, or you may find yourselves tossed out of her domain on your ears as I was,” he said, popping a pilfered sesame cracker into his mouth.

The sentry smiled nodding his understanding and escorted Haldir and Estel into the kitchens. Several heads turned as they entered, and the lady herself moved forward to welcome the visitors.

“Estel what are you doing here my angel, and who is this that you have brought with you?” Knowing only too well the identity of Estel’s tirn, (guardian) the Lady pretended ignorance to allow the child his introductions.

“I came to protect you and da ellith Lady Nilya, and dis is my friend Hal-deer…but I call him Halli.”

“Ahh…to protect us you say?” she repeated looking to Haldir for an explanation.

“Yes Milady, Estel has graciously agreed to stay here – in the kitchens – and look out for you and the others while I meet with COMMANDER Glorfindel,” he said emphasizing Glorfindel’s title.

“Ahh-uh…I see,” she replied nodding her head, Nilya understood quite clearly that no one referred to Glorfindel as ‘Commander’ unless there was a military situation involved. “Yes Milady, and he has promised me that he will ‘not-let-you-out-of-his-sight’ and has brought his fighting stick with him to make sure that you are ‘well protected’.”

Haldir’s meaning was now clear, something was going on in the house, and they wanted Estel kept safe, under a watchful eye.

“Well then, come in and take your post Master Elrondion, now that you are here I am sure that the ladies and I will not have to worry over our safety.” Estel beamed, that Haldir and Lady Nilya had such confidence in him was indeed a compliment.

“Don’ you worry Lady Nilya, I take good care of you, I pwamice.” Smiling, Estel stood to post as he had seen the sentries do countless times. Seeing that his charge was in good hands Haldir bowed thanking Nilya for her vigilance with Estel, and as he and Hírómë made their way to the war room he looked back to see Estel marching back and forth inside the kitchen door with his fighting stick propped on his shoulder. “Look at him,” he said aloud, “…he has the makings of a guardian…he would make an excellent warden, pity he is here in Imladris. Yes, an excellent Warden indeed.”

~~~~~~~~

Activity in the healing chambers was frenzied; Elrond and his assistants rushed back into the room to find a somewhat harried Udalin pacing near the door, waiting. A quick glance at the apprentice nestron told Elrond that something else was going on, something more than their rushed arrival, and he was almost afraid to ask what it was. Golros swiftly moved to the side as the trio, their patient and Vindil entered the room, the look of shock and the brief glint of fear on the sentry’s face as he recognized the latest victim was obvious.

“Place him there, in that middle bed,” Elrond ordered hastily, turning, he addressed Udalin. “What has happened?”

“Milord I fear the sleeping potion we gave Andras is not working, he should be sleeping peacefully, yet he tosses and turns and his eyelids flutter, he appears to be fighting his way back to consciousness.”

“I see,” Elrond paused, trying to rub away the pressure of the headache that was building at the bridge of his nose. Finally composing his thoughts he continued, ”…when Berach returns have him fetch Elwaith to sit with Andras, he can monitor his condition and make another batch of his hydrating liquid, I fear we are going to need quite a bit of it.”

Udalin made to speak, but hesitated, and Elrond knew immediately that there was more to be told.

“Is there something else you wish to say?”

Udalin’s downcast eyes gave Elrond pause, “What is it Udalin? Speak up.”

“Milord, we are running out of the herb…there is perhaps enough for one more batch… after that…” his voice trailed off as he shook his head dejectedly.

Elrond placed a comforting hand on the apprentice’s shoulder, Udalin was a fine healer, with a natural talent for the healing arts, and quite capable of running the infirmary on his own. However, in Elrond’s presence his tendency toward a lack of confidence was a foible that needed to be addressed.

“After that Udalin we shall have to put our ingenuity to work for us; our riders should reach Rohan soon, there are shortcuts they can take, secret passages we have cut near the surface in the mountains, that will give them quick safe passage. However, we should prepare ourselves for the fact that if anything goes wrong it may be several days before we hear anything from them. I have faith in you young one, you have never let me down, but the question remains, do you have faith in yourself, are you up to this challenge?”

Gaining strength from Elrond’s conviction in his ability Udalin stood a little straighter.

“Aye…I can handle this Milord.”

“Good, then have Berach and Olmarth assist Elwaith, you will then join me and Sereth to tend Aphrod; his wounds are severe and I want to get him stabilized – before he awakes. Thankfully they got him home quickly and he has not had to endure the weeks of pain that Andras has been through.”

“Yes Milord.”

Almost as an afterthought Elrond added…

“And send for Orophin, I am loathe to wake him after standing to post all night, but he might be helpful with Andras.”

“Yes Milord,” Udalin repeated as he scurried away to do Elrond’s bidding. Taking a seat on the side of Aphrod’s bed the great elf lord stared down at the hapless warrior before him. The wounds on his hands and arms seemed to be spreading upward while the one on the side of his neck snaked out like some wicked branch entwining itself across his neck and down his chest.

“Is there any potion already made?” he called out.

“Yes milord there is a little still left from the last batch.”

“Bring it quickly; we must do what we can to arrest the spread of this evil.” As he examined the wounds certain things became more obvious.

”Humm, as it spreads the color appears to become lighter and lighter as if the strength of whatever this is wanes, see here?” he said to Sereth as he traced a finger along the wound from the point of contact to the ending edges. “Lighter in color and not so pronounced, and here, clearly a handprint, and here – the tip of a finger. It is almost as if it was…”

“Was what milord?”

“Toying with him,” came a voice from behind them.

Turning, Elrond and Sereth looked up to find Andras leaning weakly against the doorframe. Dark circles ringed his eyes, eyes wide with fright, his face drained of all color he looked ever-so-much like some ghostly apparition from their long ago past. Sereth moved to the young ostler’s side placing an arm around him to give him support as he tried to guide him gently back to his bed.

“Come, you should not be out of bed, you must rest Andras.”

“It was toying with him, can you not see that?” he said frantically “It enjoys inflicting pain!”

Anger flashed in the great elf lord’s eyes, for he knew Andras spoke truly. It was obvious that this ‘thing’ whatever it was had played with Aphrod like a cat with a mouse, knowing full well the degree of excruciating pain it could inflict.

Delirious, the elf’s agitated speech continued, “That is what it did to me you know, pain, it takes pleasure in it, feeds off it!” He looked then at Sereth, as if seeing him for the first time, “You must not let it get in here,” he said pleading, “you must keep it out…it will take all of us you know…it will…it will!”

Grasping Andras firmly about the waist Sereth placed his other hand over the elf’s forehead; concentrating harder than he ever had, he pushed the young one’s mind back down into a healing sleep where he would be free of his torment. Andras slumped against him unconscious, and the healer scooped him up and carried him back to his bed. Returning to the main room the nestron appeared weakened, and visibly shaken.

“Well done Sereth,” Elrond said as he rose to help the apprentice to a chair. “That must have taken a lot out of you, to push him down so quickly.”

A look of sheer bewilderment crossed the assistant’s face as he replied. “It was easier than I thought it would be milord.”

“How so?”

The apprentice wasn’t sure how to couch his answer, for he wasn’t at all sure what he’d just experienced. Sereth searched his mind for the right words to convey what had just happened.

“Speak up son,” Elrond urged, “how was it easier?”

“It was easier milord because…”

“Yes?” Elrond asked anxiously.

“…because he was not all there.”