The Littlest Warrior

The wind whipped steadily through the underbrush just outside the gates of the Last Homely House. After another torrential rainstorm, a heavy fog had settled over the grounds and visibility was decidedly diminished. Ecthíras, the Captain for the Gate had doubled the patrols surrounding the house and pairs of well-armed, armor-clad sentries roamed the grounds at regular intervals. Inside, Erestor studied diligently, trying to find the answer they needed so desperately, while outside, evil secreted itself in the trees, watching the sentries and waiting for an opening.
~~~~~~~

Leaving the healing wing, the twins, and Glorfindel adjourned to the Hall of Fire, while Orophin and Rúmil elected to stay and sit a while with Andras. Elrond, noticing his friend’s fatigue, overruled Cilinwë’s objections and gave him leave from his duties for the rest of the evening, urging him to join the festivities in the hall. With much trepidation the Captain of Elrond’s personal guard finally acquiesced, he had an uneasy feeling, and did not wish to be separated from his Lord. Elrond however, was firm, and he finally convinced the sword master that he was quite able to take care of himself should the need arise, and further that he would be perfectly fine with Haldir at his side for the short time it would take to ready Estel for bed. It was his intention to bathe Estel, then dress him in his nightclothes, and allow the child to play for a bit under Haldir’s watchful eye. Meanwhile he would return to the Hall for a long held tradition, to join in the last song of the evening. He would then say his good nights and he and Estel would turn in for the night. It was a simple plan, but one that would go amiss very quickly.

As Estel splashed in the tub his father poured warm water over his head to rid him of the soap in his hair. The child giggled and squealed with joy “Again ada, do it again! Iss like da falls ada, down at the brew-in.”

“That is Brue-nen Estel, Bruinen.”

However, the child paid no heed, and just continued splashing and laughing as those his age are wont to do.

“Watch ada, I swimmin’, see?”

Elrond just shook his head, they really would have to do something about the child’s diction, but that could wait until another day, tomorrow was Estel’s birthday and he would not burden the boy with lectures on diction and pronunciation so close to his special day. As the two continued their nightly ritual, Haldir walked out onto the terrace and leaned against the balustrade. Staring out at the trees, he noticed that the fog was slowly beginning to lift and the ground cover in the garden could again be seen. The whole thing gave the place a nether-worldly appearance and the hairs on the back of his neck began to rise. That thing was out there, somewhere in the fog…probably watching every move they made…he would have to be especially careful now he thought, it was bound to make a move sooner or later and he did not wish to be caught off guard.

The sounds of Estel’s laughter brought a smile to the warden’s face, but it also brought a gleam to the eye of the beast; for he’d heard that sound before…in the village, the small ones made it. There was a small one in the house – perhaps there were others as well, and he began to salivate at the thought.


~~~~~~~~

Luck. It was something that Erestor had never wholeheartedly believed in, but tonight luck was with him. He’d managed to determine that the text was a compilation of at least four languages. Each language had been coded, and in turn, the words in each sentence alternated between those coded languages. He had pieces of it now, he had but to decipher the code on the last language and at least he would know what it said. The greater problem would be to decipher the riddle – if indeed that was what this was.

The -- of -- that -- all --, upon --shall --,
The --, the --, the -- strong -- fold -- you --.
One -- one, -- by -- tens -- kingdoms -- subside
-- the -- is -- forth -- no -- left --hide.
-- shall -- upon -- throne -- generations --
-- the -- and -- King -- given -- at --.
No -- set -- this -- no --, no -- strong
-- stay -- final --, or -- the -- for --.
No -- shall -- you, --shield -- your --.
-- ye -- find -- answer --the -- I -- told.
-- splinter, -- will --, shields -- good -- you,
-- you -- the -- that --, the -- both -- and --.
The -- holds -- the --; the -- shall -- the --
The -- warrior -- without -- sword -- hold.
The -- takes -- essence, -- light --more -- see,
-- the -- and -- will --as -- to --.


He was almost there, just a little while longer and they would know what to do to save the victims. Silently he sent up a prayer to the Valar for their blessing, time was running out and they would need all the help they could get.

~~~~~~~

Elrond dried Estel’s squirming little frame as the child bounced in his lap. “Come on Ada, wanna play tag?”

“Oh no…you little imp, you will not have your poor old father running up and down the halls of this house this eve,” Elrond laughed as he set the boy on the floor. “It will do you no good to run, as I have learned my lesson and locked the door,” he said as he dangled the key in front of the boy’s nose.

“Aww Ada, dat’s no fun,” and then the thought struck him, “what ‘bout Halli ada, he is a good runner…I bet he could catch me,” he said, and he was off and running toward the terrace, bare feet slapping against the stone floor, calling Haldir’s name.

“Halli…Halli, wanna play tag?” he said as he reached the terrace doors. Haldir scooped him up before his little feet could hit the damp terrace flagstones. “Whoa there little one, where do you think you are going?” he said smiling. “You cannot go outside like this you will catch your death.” Cuddling the boy in his arms he quickly brought him back to the center of the room and handed him over to his father’s waiting arms. The elf lord wrapped the child in his little sunshine blanket and stood him on the edge of the bed, “See you cannot escape me tonight I have the best warden in Arda to track you down.”

“Aww, no fair Ada, iss two ‘gainst one.”

“Well that will teach you then…you should have negotiated with your tirn as I did, to be on your side.”

“I would have Ada, but ‘Westor forgot to tell me wha’ ‘gotiate means.”

The two elves laughed hardily as Elrond slipped the child’s sleeping pants on him and helped him into a small under shirt. “There,” he said, “all we need now are your slippers and your dressing gown and you are all ready for bed.”

“Do I haveta go to bed now ada?”

“Not right away, you may stay up for a little bit longer while I go down to the Hall.”

“You gonna sing da last song ada?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Can I go too ada?”

“No, not tonight ion nín you need your rest, you have had a busy day, and besides tomorrow is your birthday – tomorrow you can stay up as late as you want.”

“Weally?”

“Yes you may, so tonight you play for a little while and then I will come back and you and I will go to my room and get some rest.”

“I gonna sleep wit’ you again tonight ada?” he said excitedly.

“Yes, that is my plan.”

“Whoopee!” the child hooted, jumping up and down on the bed.

“But for now, settle down and be a good boy for Haldir while I say my good-nights.”

“A’right ada I will, pwamice!”

“All right then I will see the two of you in a little while.” Then turning to Haldir he said, “I will not be long Haldir, I know you are probably anxious to get to the hall to visit with friends, I promise not to hold you too much longer.”

“Do not worry after me Milord, spending time with Estel has been an unexpected pleasure, I do not mind at all.”

“Very well then, I will be off – behave yourself Estel…” he said as he hurried through the door and down the corridor out of sight.

Slipping on his robe and house shoes Estel’s next question was predictable; never wanting to rest he asked, “So, wha’ shall we do now Halli?” he said with an expectant grin. All the tired warden could do was smile and shake his head.

~~~~~~~

Erestor had gained quite a bit of ground in translating the text. He’d finally broken the code of the fourth language and now he was piecing the text together.

‘The dark of night that bends all light, upon you shall descend’, ’Well that certainly has happened, the storm a few days ago and the one again today were horrid,’ he thought.

‘The spear, the bow, the gauntlet strong shall fold as you defend’, “Defend? Defend what? Ourselves perhaps?”

‘One by one, then by the tens your kingdoms shall subside’. “One by one then by the tens…? Are we the first of many?”

‘Until the King is given forth with no place left to hide’. “The King? Well that could be anyone, but I have never heard of a king that hides. Could it mean Thranduil, he is under ground; I suppose that could be considered hiding? And the book did come from him.”

‘Evil shall reign upon the throne of generations past’, “How does one reign on a throne from the past? Oh this makes no sense; I must have misinterpreted the code…”

‘The day the last and only King is given up at last, “Last and only king? But there are many kings on Arda…, unless…, no, it cannot be…he said as his heart beat harder in his chest and his eyes began to tear over, “the last King, hiding?” “Sweet Eru…it means Estel!”