Larus – I'm glad you are along for the ride.  This chapter is a little more character and a little less action.  Hope you don't mind too much.  I have 11 whole days off - starting today!!  Woo hoo! So I expect to throw a little more action your way soon!

Ladywinter – in my universe Arwen has only just returned to meet a grown Estel.  Hope you don't mind if this is a bit slow in the romance department  (maybe not even in this story.  I enjoy having a strong female character to write, but I'm just as intrigued - if not more so - by portraying the new and growing relationship with Legolas.) I really appreciate your faith that I could write a decent romance.

Lassemista – glad I still have a few tricks up my sleeve for you!

Aralondwen – I love action and a sense of humor.  The tightest scrapes I've been in have always been made a little more bearable by sharing a sense of humor.  I try a little more in this chapter that is really little more than an interlude.  Hope you approve.

Sue – Adventure beyond the earth or in Middle Earth.  If you are familiar with Campbell's writings they are all the Hero With a 1000 Faces.  So glad you are along for the ride.  Have you written anything?  You never log in so I've always been curious…

Slea – Eeek, I'm just learning about adjectives and compound sentences after having them beat our of me years ago pursuing a journalism degree.  That is just the sweetest compliment – you just don't know.  Making most of this up as I go (god bless all the wonderful Tolkien research materials) is the scariest thing I've ever done!

Chapter 8 – The Charm of a Fallen Hero

The dawn broke in filtered shafts of light through the trees surrounding the small cave.  Arwen and Legolas were already about the camp.  She was tending to the horses as Legolas set out to forage for edibles.  If he was lucky, Legolas mused, he might return with something substantial.  The ranger would need a couple of hearty meals to aid in healing.

Very unlike himself in normal circumstances, Strider still slept instead of arising before sunrise, as he was wont to do.  Arwen had woken him once during the night, quite patient with his half-hearted grumbling as she made him drink an infusion that would prevent fever.  As she gathered more wood or the fire, she smiled at the memory of their brief conversation.

***---***---***---***

Arwen sat on the floor beside him, holding a small wooden cup in her hand.  She gently shook the ranger's good shoulder, bidding him softly to wake up. 

"I have a draught that you must drink to prevent fever, Estel.  Can you sit up for just a moment?  Then you will be able to get your fill of sleep once again."

The young man favored Arwen with a groggy, yet skeptical glance.  "Now that you have a ready patient, I doubt that you can prevent yourself from experimenting with me while I am too weak to protest."

Arwen's gentle nature could not be so easily abused as she wryly smiled.  "You must not be that weak, as it seems that you have not failed to protest every waking moment since you were injured."

Even exhausted, the ranger could appreciate Arwen's ready wit.  "Noble.  Noble injuries.  Remember what Legolas said."

Arwen's laughter chimed like silver bells.  "It figures that you overheard that story.  Father should have named you Ears instead of Hope."

Estel looked up at Arwen, radiant with amusement, and thought, at that moment, he could stay up the rest of the night if only he could continue to provide her with laughter that would light up this gloomy cave.   Surely he could need no other tonic.

"Imagine my surprise at being allowed the chance to hear someone extol my virtues rather than my flaws – for a change."

Arwen put a finger to her lips as if in thought.  "Indeed.  I had not thought what a rare occurrence that would be for you."  She tipped her head down and favored him with a mischievous smile with lash-veiled eyes. 

It was Estel's turn to chuckle at his sister's droll humor.  "Enough!  I beg you."  He struggled to rise with his good right arm.  Arwen's arm braced him from behind and helped him rise.  "Where is this medicine?  Would that it could heal my ego as your barbs have surely found their mark."

Arwen slid behind him to support Estel as he sat up. She handed him the healing tea.  Estel had but taken only one small sip when his face puckered up with disgust.   

"This tastes like brackish water passed over the leavings of already smoked Halfling's leaf." 

"Truly?  I imagine that you would know."  Pausing for effect she soon continued.  "Elrohir mentioned a story once about you, a tavern, a fistfight and something about a spittoon."  Startled and attempting to say something in reply, Estel's mouth fell open and Arwen unceremoniously tipped the rest of the contents of the cup into his mouth. 

Sputtering, the man swallowed the last of the draught.  Already the contents had begun its work.  A sleepy warmth seeped into his limbs as he relaxed into Arwen's awaiting arms.  As she lowered him back down onto the improvised pallet, he looked up at her though eyes glazed with approaching slumber. 

"Did I mention that I was going to kill Elrohir when next we meet?"

"Yes, Estel, I believe that you mentioned something to that effect earlier."

A quite yawn, barely a sigh, escaped his lips as he added, "I don't imagine I could get the satisfaction of killing him twice."

Almost before the last word escaped his mouth, Estel was soundly asleep.  Smiling gently, Arwen pulled the blankets up to the ranger's chin and smoothed his unruly hair from his face. 

Maybe for the first time Arwen was beginning to see what her father and her friend Legolas saw in this youth. 

"Rest dear one. You will need all your strength if you are going to take on our older brother."  She added, with the wonder of first clarity, "You are cherished more than you know… or I expected."

TBC…