Legacies of Middle Earth: A Collection of Short Stories

Little Hope

Third place winner of the Teitho 'Life & Death' March 2016 Challenge.

Synopsis: Little Estel has noticed everyone is worried, and for good reason, for Elrond's sons have went off to fight the monsters that hunt him. Fearful for his beloved friends, the boy finds himself in the company of the elf that lived twice...perhaps Glorfindel can bring some hope?

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The boy hid behind elaborate marble pillars, his grey eyes huge, like saucers in his young face. He attempted to remain hidden - silent as a mouse - for he should not have wandered this far.

Estel had been happily lopping around the great mansions of Imladris, bored and seeking adventure. Usually some elf would take pity on his plight, after all elves were full of interesting ideas and lessons...but not today.

He had sought out Elrond's sons in the early morning, those two were his favoured entertainers and they nearly always had wonderfully mischievous plans. Sadly, he had learned from the stable boys that the twins had left in the night, and Estel had stood mournfully by the river banks longing for the day he could join them on their great quests. Unfortunately he was only a boy, and though he had great skill with a fancy dagger gifted to him by Elladan, he still wasn't entirely convinced he could face an orc or goblin just yet.

Orcs! They were awfully ugly things. He had seen a dying orc once, he had watched as Elrohir wrung information from him, and he had shamefully hid behind Elladan's robes as he did. When the orc gargled and spat in his dying breaths -and Lord Elrond raised a merciful hand to have his son end the beasts suffering - Estel ran. He did not want to see death, or more so he did not wish to his adoptive brothers, who were always filled with mirth and joy, murder something. The grim and hate filled looks held in their eyes mirrored that of the orc's, and the darkness in all their souls had frightened the boy.

One day he knew he would kill an Orc, but what if one day an Orc killed him? What if they stood around him with black eyes all filled with scathing hate, and stuck a rusted blade in his belly? No, he didn't much like that idea. His mother said monsters were always after him, and the elves would keep him safe - but what if the monsters got him? Death seemed empty and cruel, it was something one faced alone with no guarantee of waking up somewhere new.

Estel always considered death when the twins went away, because when they did everyone seemed tense. Imladris became quiet, like it was waiting on bad news. Lord Elrond would take to his rooms, and his mother said he went to pray for his sons. The others, like Erestor or Lindir - his friends and teachers - they did not seem so jovial and would walk around with somber faces and speak in rooms in hushed voices. Estel had learned that this was worry, and everyone worried until their loved ones returned safe, because they might come home sick or hurt, or worse...sometimes they didn't come home at all. No one liked death, and everyone feared it...everyone but one;

Lord Glorfindel.

The very same elf that Estel had happened upon during his thoughtful stroll around the mansion. In his curiosity he had wandered into some previously unexplored rooms, and it would appear these rooms belonged to the eccentric and revered elf Lord.

Chewing his bottom lip, the boy considered the irony of his discovery. On his day of consideration of death he had found the Balrog Slayer who did not die. The twins told him stories of Glorfindel, they said he had strong magic, and that he came back from death...the very thing everyone feared. To the young mortal child this being was far beyond his reach, and being so awed and frightened of the golden haired elf, Estel had chosen to hide when he was present - not that he was present much. Glorfindel spent many months abroad on secretive missions, and when he returned he spent much time in his rooms...the same rooms Estel had now entered uninvited.