The Littlest Warrior

Andras opened his eyes like a shot. Moments before his mind had been wandering, lost, deep in a pain-diminished fog, and now he was wide-awake. His room was somewhat darkened, lit only by the glow of a small torchere that hung on the wall near the door. He sat up in bed feeling somehow – stronger, though he could not explain why. Throwing back the covers, he eased his feet down to the floor, steadied himself by holding on to the small table at the side of his bed, and stood up. As he inched his way toward the door he could hear raised voices coming from the room beyond. Someone with a strong voice was calling for Lord Elrond, and another weaker voice kept insisting that they were not going back to bed. As he reached the door he saw Elrond rushing to the side of a young patient; the marks on the elf’s neck were identical to his – he had obviously had a run in with the same beast that attacked him. The great elf lord’s calming voice quieted the fussing assistants as he placed a steadying arm around the visibly agitated elf.

“I must leave! I cannot stay here – I must go outside!”

“Aphrod, calm yourself young one, there is nothing to harm you here, and there is nothing outside but danger. You must stay here and rest.” He motioned his assistants forward as he tried to guide Aphrod back towards the bed, but the young elf continued to struggle, insisting on leaving the ward.

“No!” he shouted, “I must go now before it is too late!”

“Let him go!” came a shouted voice from the doorway, and the occupants of the room all turned to find Andras leaning against the doorframe. “We must get out of here! They call to us…we must go.”

“Who calls to you young one?” Elrond asked confused; but before Andras could answer Cilinwë burst through the door with the answer on his lips.

~~~

Estel was understandably upset. The bad elf had chased and cornered him, and if it hadn’t been for Halli, the bad elf would have gotten him for sure. His friend had saved his life, and kept the bad elf away from him; now he was hurt, lying on the ground screaming out in pain, and it looked to the child, as if a cloud was trying to consume him. Estel anxiously bounced up and down in Erestor’s arms using both hands to pull the Seneschal’s delicate fingers away from his mouth.

“Peace Estel,” the counselor whispered, “Haldir will be fine.”

“Da cloud is trying to eat him,” Estel whispered tearfully.

“No little one, the mist is helping him – see? Look at how it touches him – watch.”

Estel’s eyes widened as he watched the mist gracefully swirl around his new friend. It danced on the air, moving gently over his arm. Estel could see Haldir’s eyes and he could tell that his friend was at peace – the mist really was helping him. As they watched, Estel saw the grey marks on Haldir’s arm and chest slowly start to fade, his face became more serene, and the child could tell that his friend was no longer in pain. As the marks retreated further and further away, strength began to return to the arm. Haldir watched silently as the healing took place right before his eyes. Glancing up he gave Erestor and Estel a small smile as his arm began to tingle with feeling.

“Hold them,” Erestor whispered, “hold them as long as you can…the others are coming.”

“Hold who Westor?” Estel queried.

The Seneschal was just about to answer when he heard voices over his left shoulder. Turning, he could see Elrond and Aphrod, being led by Cilinwë through the bushes. Further back was Andras, with Udalin and Elwaith on either side supporting him. As they reached the little clearing they slowed, each casting a glance at the decapitated body. Elrond momentarily stood still, amazed at what he saw before him. Quietly he motioned for Andras to be brought forward, “Lay him there, next to Haldir,” he whispered “…easy now, do not frighten them.”

As his instructions were being carried out, Aphrod moved closer and sat on the ground at Haldir’s feet. The Galadhel opened his eyes and watched as the assistants slowly moved away, and as they did, the mist also began to move. Gently it encircled the three elves in swirling; life giving eddies, that caressed them as gently as a maiden’s kiss. Never taking his eyes from the scene in front of him, Elrond moved to stand beside Erestor. With his father so near, Estel leaned over and reached for his Ada, asking to be taken.

“Whas’ da cloud doing Ada?” he asked.

Cradling the child in his arms Elrond kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, “Shhh, sedho (be quiet) little one – that is not a cloud. That is the blessing of Eru – the Faër (spirit) of Haldir, Andras, and Aphrod. Watch now, as Eru gives them back what was taken from them. Watch… the magic of the elves…”

~~~~~


Morning seemed to come faster than usual for the Last Homely House. The beast was dead, its body totally consumed by the flames of a death pyre the night before. Haldir, Andras, and Aphrod had been taken back to the healing wing to rest and continue their recuperation. Not that they got any rest. With the missing pieces of their Fëa restored, the elves had begun to heal. Andras’ arm, though still weak and limp, no longer held the grey withered appearance it had when they rode into Imladris. Once his Fëa returned to his body the natural restorative powers of the elves took over and his flesh returned to normal.

Orophin and Rúmil kept a nightlong vigil at their brother’s side, even though he repeatedly told them to go and get some sleep. Timagol, Elwaith, Ingorn, and Malrin had done likewise with Andras, amazed at how improved he looked after his ordeal. Lastly, Vindil was all smiles as his friend Aphrod regaled him with his story of how he tracked the monster using only his sensitive nose.

And Estel had refused to leave the healing wing altogether; his father was there, Halli and Aphrod were there as were Wú and Phin and he’d determined that the safest place to be was there with them. Elrond was not sure whether the boy was still running on fear and adrenaline or if there really was an unending source of energy inside the child. Whatever it was that was keeping him going, Elrond chose not to stress the child any further by insisting that he sleep in his room. Orophin had had a long talk with Estel the night before, successfully calming the child and reassuring him that the bad elf was gone for good, and that his friends would be up on their feet and back as they always were in no time at all. As a result, Estel had puttered back and forth for the rest of the night between the beds of his friends, and visiting with his new acquaintance Andras, making sure that everyone was getting better. Finally, shortly before noon the little apprentice nestron climbed up on Elrond’s lap and asked his father to keep an eye on things while he took a little nap. Within minutes the child was fast asleep and his father put him to bed there in the infirmary, so he would not run the risk of waking up alone.

Glorfindel had finally pried the twins and Erestor out of the healing wing and away from Estel. The twins had moved as far away as the hallway, a whole ten feet, where they made themselves comfortable sleeping in two of the massive chairs that adorned the corridor. The Beast was dead, but despite their father’s urging to go to their rooms and get some much-needed rest, they opted for the hallway – right outside the door where their brother now slept. Their logic, however flawed, was inescapable – where there was one there might be others…so they slept with their swords in their hands. They understood all too well how close they had come to losing Estel, and they were unyielding – the ‘look’ had passed between them, there would be no more close calls.

The feisty Seneschal had been adamant about staying where he was, watching over ‘his baby’, to the point where Glorfindel had to physically pick him up and carry him away, while Estel stood trying to calm him saying “Don’ cry Westor, I be fine, I pwamice.” Erestor spent the rest of that evening curled up next to Glorfindel on the settee sputtering his defiance at the Golden Lord, while intermittently explaining how he figured out the riddle…

“If none of the swords would take him down, how did you know that Cilinwë’s would?” the golden warrior asked.

“The key for me was the phrase ‘the blade both light and true’, it was familiar to me, I knew that I had heard it before. It was simply a matter of remembering where and when. It was oh, over four hundred years ago, it was on the night that Cilinwë was named to head Elrond’s personal guard. You were celebrating, and we spent the evening with Cilinwë in his chambers. Well, as the evening wore on, the two of you became rather inebriated…”

The Balrog slayer replied in mock indignation, “What, say you? Me, drunk? Why I do not recall any such evening.”

“How could you? You were as drunk as a summer’s day is long.”

“I remember no such event,” the slayer said defiantly.

“Well I do, you were both drunk as a pair of Corsairs on shore leave. You were bragging about your skill with a sword, and he set a wager upon you, that he had a sword that even you could not wield. That was when he told us about Celebhîth – imbued with both truth and light.”

Glorfindel was full of questions, “Once you remembered, how did you know to cut off the head? Haldir had been fighting with that thing for several minutes, and struck several blows to no avail…how did you know how to kill it?”

“The last line of the riddle…’Separate the reason and it will be as meant to be’. How do we reason?”

The light finally dawned for the Golden Lord, “With our heads!”

“Precisely, separate the reason – the head, and everything will be as it was meant to be.”

Glorfindel gently kissed Erestor on the side of his head adding, “I think I could get used to being one half of a genius couple.”

“Hummm…would that I could say the same” the acerbic counselor replied as he bounced a pillow off the side of Glorfindel’s head and snuggled even closer.

~~~~~

With the threat to their home eliminated, preparations for Estel’s party were underway and the elves were in good spirits. The Lady Nilya had mobilized her army of helpers, and decorations in both the dining hall and the Hall of Fire were in full swing. The dinner she was preparing made previous night’s meals look like picnic lunches, and she was just putting the finishing touches, little blueberry flowers, on Estel’s cake. Throughout the house warriors were pulling their best clothing out of their wardrobes and making ready for the festivities, and Estel slept the sleep of the peaceful.

~~~~~

Six o’clock, and Estel’s birthday party was in full swing. The musicians were playing, people were dancing, and in general everyone was having a good time. Estel had opened dozens of gifts, and although he was enjoying the party he was somewhat distracted. Looking around the room he could see that two of his favorite people were missing, and he continued to ask after them.

“Ada, where are Halli and Linwë? Are dey not coming?”

“They will be here soon ion nín, they had something they needed to do.”

Another half an hour went by and Estel was beginning to worry, it seemed as though his friends did not plan to attend his party, and the little one’s shoulder’s began to slump. Just when he thought that all hope was lost, the doors to the dining room opened and on the other side stood Haldir and Cilinwë. The musician’s immediately began to play a victory song, one that was often used after the last alliance, and the two strode into the room side by side. The Imladris residents took to their feet and the applause and shouts left no doubt that they felt honored by the presence of the two warriors.

Estel was off his seat and running towards them before anyone could stop him, “Linwë! Halli!” he called out joyfully, “I dinna t’ink you were gonna come, what took you so long?” he said as he wrapped himself around their knees.

“Well, we were just following your example Estel.”

As the child looked at them quizzically, Haldir smiled and said, “We wanted to make an entrance.”

Haldir’s arm was in a sling, and you could tell that he was not fully recovered, but the March Warden still stood proudly in the center of the room. Cilinwë picked the boy up saying, “We would not have missed this night for the world little one, not for all of Arda.”

Looking around the room Cilinwë raised his hand and asked for silence. Aphrod and Andras watched from the comfort of two oversized settees that had been especially cushioned and prepared for them at the side of the room. While everyone else looked on, Haldir signaled his brothers, and Orophin and Rúmil stepped forward bringing a stool and carrying a long package – a gift, wrapped in the blue and gold colors of Cilinwë’s house.

Setting the child atop the stool Rúmil spoke for them saying, “Last night you prevented the person most dear to us in all of Arda from being taken away…you saved our brother’s life little one, and we are forever in your debt. If there is ever a time when you need our help, know that we will be there to fight alongside you.” Orophin then stepped forward with the box and presented it to the child adding, “A worthy gift from Imladris’ Master of Swords,” he then bowed and backed away.

The boy tore into the cloth, pulling it quickly aside and opening the box to reveal the miniature sword – exact in every detail, complete with sheath, mithril inlays on the wooden handle, and intricately woven silver puzzle chains on each side of the hilt - chains that, unless unhooked, prevented it from being unsheathed, just like Cilinwë's.

Estel was speechless, well, almost. “Ada look, I have a sword, Linwë gave me a sword, look ada iss just like his…iss just like Linwë’s ada!” Elrond, the twins, Glorfindel and Erestor all crowded around admiring the boy’s gift, while Cilinwë showed him how to unlock the chains. Estel now sat stabbing the sword into the air, then Haldir spoke and the room grew quiet again.

“My brethren, separately and together we have come through many battles, many wars. Through it all I believe we have learned one important thing, that it is not stature, but heart that determines the true spirit of a warrior.” Looking back at Estel he continued, “Estel, in all my long years I have never met anyone with more courage of heart and spirit than you.”

Turning, he addressed the room, “If not for the quick thinking and bravery of this child I would not be here with you tonight.” Approaching the child, he gently caressed the side of the boy’s face, then spoke again. “When you threw that blanket down upon the beast so that he could not see me, you saved my life. You risked your life to call for help, knowing that the beast would find you, it was the selfless act of a warrior, and now it is time to acknowledge you for your courage.”

Looking first to Lord Elrond, he watched the ancient elf nod his approval of what was about to happen. Erestor caught Estel’s eye and tugged on his robes, causing the little one to sit up straight on the stool. Much to the child’s surprise his brothers stepped forward, offered up a delicately carved wooden box to Haldir and Cilinwë, and then crossed their hearts with their hands and bowed, saluting their brother. Stepping forward Elrond added his blessing to what was about to happen.

“Estel…this day you join an elite group of individuals, those tasked with the most important job anyone could ever have – to protect and serve the people of this realm. Your Elven brethren have deemed you worthy of the right to bear the braids of a warrior, and I wholeheartedly concur…I am very proud of you ion nín, very proud.”

Then glancing at the assembled party he nodded his consent and stepped back to watch. With Elrond and all of Imladris looking on, Cilinwë opened the box to reveal his mithril comb and brush set, then, he and Haldir, with a little help from Rúmil, began to braid Estel’s hair. One by one the warriors in the room began to line up behind the child’s stool. They each braided a little less than an inch apiece, handing the unfinished braid to the next warrior in line and then took a knee at the boy’s feet. Each warrior in the house, including Ecthíras; Gwaenir; Malrin; Maeraen; Braneth; Illarion; Orophin; Elrohir; and finally Elladan - each in turn, until the four braids were completed. Lastly, Glorfindel, Commander of the Host, with assistance from a tearful but beaming Erestor, secured the braids at the back of the child’s head with a small mithril clasp that bore the insignia of Imladris – and the House of Elrond.
“Ada…” the little one asked, “does dis mean I proved me?”

Elrond looked around the room and posed his question, “What say you my brethren…has the boy proved himself?”

Cilinwë looked up smiling, as the resounding chorus of “Aye!” filled the room, and caused the crystal chandelier above their heads to shake once again.

~~~

Midnight, and Elrond carefully carried his sleeping son into his bedchamber. Placing the boy in the bed he gently tucked Estel’s Sunshine Blankey around the child’s sleeping form and slipped the newly returned Niphredil under the covers beside him. The boy stirred briefly and slowly opened his eyes.

“Ada?” he softly queried.

“Yes ion nín, what is it?”

“Ada, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course little one, you may ask me anything.”

“You will not get mad at me?”

“Of course not ion, why would I be angry at you for asking a question? What is it that you want to know?” he whispered as he sat on the side of the bed.

“Ada, do I hafta be a story teller when I grow up?”

“A story teller? You mean a Lore Master, like Canúmion?

“Yeth, do I hafta be one?”

“Well, no Estel…you do not have to be one if you do not wish to? Why do you ask?”

“What about a coun, couns, what about a ‘sistant, like ‘Westor, do I hafta be a ‘sistant Ada?”

Elrond just smiled, he was beginning to get the picture, “No, you do not have to be an assistant either, unless you want to.”

“Ada, why does ev’vyone say Ima be like ‘dem when I grow up?”

Elrond laughed quietly…

“Whas funny Ada?” the child asked innocently, “did I make a funny?”

“I apologize son, and no you did not make a funny. But I suppose it is a little bit funny that everyone wants you to grow up and be just as they are. Tell me little one, who wants you to be like them?”

“Well, Canú said I will be a great story teller, and ‘Westor said Ima born coun…couns…”

“Counselor?”

“Yeth that, ‘Westor said I am born to it Ada,” he said emphatically.

“Anyone else?”

“’Linwë said I will be a great swordsman, just like him, and Glorfy said Affaloff told him Ima be a horseman!” “And…”

“And what little one?”

“Halli said Ima sentry, an I can come to da Woods of Gold an work right ‘side him.”

“Anyone else?”

“O’phin said I have da bearin’ of a King Ada – do you believe dat ada? A King!” he said incredulously.

“An you said one day Ima be a fine healer. Ada do I hafta be dose t’ings if I don’ wanna?”

Elrond just smiled and bent to place a goodnight kiss on Estel’s forehead.

“No Melyanna, you do not have to be any of those things if you do not wish to…it is just that…”

“Dat what Ada?”

“It is just that here in Imladris we are like a big family, and everyone does something important to keep our family strong and safe. And we love you so much that we know in our hearts that when you grow up you will be a fine strong man who will do wonderful things for our big family. And along the way we will each try to teach you something that will help you to become that man. So…we each teach you what we know how to do best…and inside I think we each secretly hope that you will choose something that we taught you – and do that when you are a man.”

“But the choice of what you will become is yours little one, perhaps you will choose something that we taught you, and perhaps not. The decision is yours to make, and yours alone.”

“Do I hafta make a ‘cision now Ada?”

In spite of himself Elrond laughed out loud, “No little love, you do not have to decide now. You have many, many years ahead of you to make your decision. Just know that whatever you decide, no matter what it is, we will love you and support you and help you any way we can.”

“Pwamice Ada?”

“That is ‘promise’ Estel…’promise’ the elf lord corrected, “And yes son…I promise. Now, enough questions for one night, it is time for all little boys to close their eyes and go to sleep.”

“A’right Ada, I see you in da mornin’ m’kay?”

“Yes, in the morning love.”

With that, Estel pulled his freshly washed blankey up under his chin and closed his eyes to sleep. Elrond quietly exited the room and returned to the Hall of Fire, he had his own story to tell tonight about a little boy who was worried about pleasing his family. He would have to speak to the others about being a little more circumspect in their dealings with Estel, one so little was easily influenced, and he did not want his son to feel pressured to do anything he wasn’t completely in love with.

As the door to Estel’s room closed the little one reached under the covers and pulled Nif up to his chest, it was time to consult his personal advisor, and Nif the Great was ready.

“Nif, did you hear what Ada said? He said I don’ hafta be anythin’ I don’ wanna be. Whas dat Nif? Yeth, I like all dose t’ings, but iss hard to choose Nif. Ev’vyone wants me to be just like dem, an I don’ wanna make anybody sad.”

The little rabbit stared back at Estel with knowing sympathetic eyes, then offered his sage and ‘intuitive’ advice. The littlest Elrondion’s eyes lit up like moonbeams at the ‘suggestion’.
“I t’ink thas a good idea Nif, mayhaps I will be all those t’ings when I grow up, a swordsman, a horseman, a coun-se-lor, a healer, a lore master, a wa’den, and a king; but most of all Nif… he said determinedly, I gonna be a warrior!”