Gilraen yelped, bending to scoop up one of Estel's boots that she had just accidentally kicked. "Estel, what have I told you about putting away your things?"

"It's only my room. I didn't think it mattered in here," Estel replied, looking up from where he was using a stuffed mouse to torment Celeg. Taking advantage of his temporary distraction, Celeg extended her claws, snagged the toy from Estel's grasp, and ran under a large chest with it. Estel scrambled after.

Gilraen surveyed the chaos of her son's room. The bed had not been made, indeed, looked as though it had not been straightened for some days. The surfaces of tables, chests, and chairs were groaning under the weight of books, toys, clothes, training weapons, and other items that Gilraen did not care to examine more closely. The floor was little different, although there was a clear path from door to bed, to bathing chamber.

Gilraen stuck her hands upon her hips. "This will not do, Estel. Do you have any studies this morning?"

Estel shook his head. "Adar says I can play today, but I'm bored."

"Then, if you don't want to play you can tidy this room instead. I want to see everything put in its proper place, the bed made, and the floor swept by lunch time." Gilraen cast a meaningful look toward the door to the bathing room. "I shall also be inspecting that room when I return."

"Oh, Mama! But it's sunny outside."

His mother countered with, "But you are not outside, Estel. So, as you are inside, you can do something useful while you are here. Honestly, you have been moping about for days. I cannot think what the matter with you can be." She did not stay to hear any explanation or further protest, already late for her riding lesson with Elrohir.

-0-

Elrond looked up from his work, surprised to discover that morning was already well advanced. He had begun his transcription after supper last night and grown so involved that he had not even noticed when his candle burned down and Anor had lifted her golden head above the valley rim. Now she stood almost at her zenith. It was not uncommon for the lore master to lose time thus, but it seemed to happen more frequently of late. He frowned down at his new, more detailed, copy of the tale of Beren and Luthien. It was almost as though something within him clamoured to record as much of the history of his people as he could before . . . before what? Deciding that particular question could wait until he had eaten, Elrond stepped out onto his terrace, inhaling deeply of the clean air.

At the edge of the gardens, where lawn met woodland, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Estel was strolling along the border, a hazel switch in his hand that he was using to flick in a desultory manner at the undergrowth. At another time Elrond would have chastised his foster son for such wanton destruction, but the boys' demeanour made him hold his tongue. Drawing on a robe against the early autumn chill he chose, instead, to join Estel.

"Good day, Estel." The elf hid a smile as mortal lad started then spun about in alarm, trying to hide the switch behind his back. Elrond raised one elegant brow and, with a blush, Estel dropped his erstwhile weapon.

"Sorry, Adar. I forgot."

"It is fortunate that we have plenty of nettles, so the woodland will not miss a few. I shall send someone from the Healers Hall to harvest your casualties. But what brings about this need for such wanton destruction?"

Estel shrugged, seeming to make a detailed study of the ground before his booted feet.

Elrond tried again. "Have you no tasks to perform?"

Estel addressed his toes. "I cleaned my room this morning, but I have nothing to do this afternoon."

"Neither have I. I feel in need of some exercise and a little company, however. Will you walk with me?" In truth, he had promised to meet with Faerwen regarding the commissioning of a new tapestry, but he hoped she would forgive him if he arrived a little late.

The tousled head lifted at last and Estel graced his foster father with a wide grin and an enthusiastic, "Yes please!"

Elrond led the way into the shady woodland, moderating his long stride to accommodate Estel's shorter legs. "I hope I did not interrupt some deep reverie. It is long since I was able to creep up on you, unnoticed."

Estel's smile faded. "It wasn't important."

"Of course it was important. All thought is important. What leads you to believe that your thoughts are not?"

His steps slowing, Estel again described a small arc with his toe in the soft loam. "You have … er … had … a brother, didn't you?"

Wondering where this was leading Elrond continued walking, so that Estel had to skip to catch up. Elrond had discovered long ago that difficult topics were often easier discussed whilst walking. "I did. His name was Elros."

"And your Naneth and Adar are in the West. Were you very old when they left? Do you miss them? I miss my Papa but I still have my Mama."

Elrond stroked Estel's dark curls. "My brother and I were about the same age you are now when my Naneth had to leave us. My Adar had left some years before and was often away in my youth, for he was a mariner."

"What's it like to have a brother?"

"One may as well ask the nature of water, for all brothers are different and their relationship is shaped by time and events."

Estel sighed. Adar always answered his questions but as he grew he was learning that if he did not ask a specific question, he did not get a specific answer. He tried again. "Is having a brother the same as having a friend?"

Elrond folded his hands within his wide sleeves. "It can be. I have had some friends that I would hold as close as any brother and I have known brothers who would consider themselves to be mortal enemies." He watched Estel's brow crease as he digested this information.

"I can't imagine Elladan and Elrohir ever being enemies."

"At present, neither can I. But times change and even those with foresight cannot see all. There could come a time when my sons would find themselves on opposing sides in some disagreement." Elrond's gaze grew distant, as though searching back, or perhaps forward.

That was another thing Estel realised as he grew older. Grown ups did not speak aloud all the thoughts that ran through their heads. "Did you and Elros ever fight?"

Elrond chuckled. "Constantly. We fought over who got the largest piece of cake, or who's boot had gone missing, over who was the taller and who could run faster. But we always made up. Naneth told us something very important. She said that we should never let the sun go down upon our anger."

"So, you made up because you were brothers and brothers love each other, no matter what happens."

Elrond's eyes narrowed. "Do you need to confess something, Estel?"

"No, Adar! I haven't broken any rules. I promise." The lad studied his feet for a moment. "But do brothers love each other and make up, no matter what happens?"

There was a longer pause before Elrond replied. "That is a difficult question. You see, love is not dependent upon liking."

"I don't understand, Adar. How can you not like someone and still love them?"

"I did not make myself clear. Let me try again. I can dislike something that my brother does but still continue to love my brother."

Once more Estel considered that statement, his features settling after a few moments. "Like you and Mama were cross when I sneaked into the Warriors Hall?"

"Yes. We did not like what you did but we still continued to love you." Estel absorbed this information and for several minutes they walked in silence. Elrond waited patiently for the next string of questions, content to listen to birdsong, and watch dappled sunlight dance upon the undergrowth beginning to take on its autumn colour.

Estel held aside a bramble for his Adar to pass and Elrond smiled his thanks. "Would there ever be a time when you couldn't love me?"

Elrond frowned. "Are you certain that there is nothing that you wish to confess?"

Estel giggled. "No Adar. I just wondered why Elros decided that he wanted to be mortal and you did not. Did you fall out?"

"Ahhh. We argued but we did not, "fall out". He had grown to enjoy mortal company and felt that he had much to offer as their leader. Elros was ever the more spontaneous of us and loved the immediacy of mortal life."

"What did you argue about?"

Elrond smiled fondly. "I was being selfish, I fear. I did not wish to lose the last of my family, despite having made a good friend in Gilgalad."

"You are never selfish, Adar," Estel announced firmly, with all the confidence of youth in the perfection of adults. "And you would still be able to speak to him," he pointed out. "He didn't die for ages."

His Adar's smile faded a little. "I can be very selfish, and five hundred years is but a day to an elf."

Estel considered this statement. "So, do you still miss him?"

"Not as much as I once did, but there are times, when I see my sons together, that I remember the bond we shared as twins and it saddens me."

Estel stopped dead, turning to look up at Elrond, his face drowned in concern. "I'm sorry, Adar. I didn't mean to make you feel sad. I just wanted to know what having a brother was like."

Elrond drew the youngster into his side. "Aia, Tittlepin. You have brought me far more joy than sadness in the years that you have been here. One day you will find a friend who you will come to love as a brother and will love you in return."

Estel spoke to the ground but elven ears made sense of the mumble. "There are no elven children here. I hoped Faerwen and Erestor would have babies but Mama says they probably won't." He looked up now. "Why is that? Don't they like babies?"

"I have never thought to ask them whether they like children. I know they both like you, so I assume that they do." Elrond sighed. "But you must understand that we live in difficult times. Our enemy is gathering strength and very few elves would choose to birth children in such days. It is likely that Faerwen and Erestor will not raise a family in this land, but rather wait until they travel West." He waved an arm at the surrounding woodland. "We live in a fortress here."

Estel's foot described an arc in the soil once more. "I would like some other children to play with."

"Ahh. Is that why you were so disconsolate earlier?"

Once more Estel had to skip to catch up. "Disconsolate?"

"Sad," Elrond explained.

"I wasn't sad. Not really. I just would like someone to play with sometimes."

"What of Celeg? Does she not keep you company? I have seen you play with her many times."

Estel grinned. "She is funny, sometimes. She knows Glorfindel doesn't like cat hairs, so she always tries to climb all over him whenever he comes to my room." His smile faded. "But she doesn't play as much as she used to, and she visits the stables a lot. There's a big black and white cat there that she's been playing with more and more."

Elrond filed away that bit of information. He would need to speak with both cats as he knew that the black and white cat Estel referred to was male. Not that any of Rivendell's cats paid too much attention when it came to reproduction. It was a wonder to the lord of the valley that they were not overrun. "So, you are lonely?"

"I hope you aren't angry, Adar. You and Roh and Dan are my family but . . ."

"But we are old," Elrond finished for him with a smile.

Estel winced. "Yes."

Elrond laid his hand upon shoulders that still held the narrow breadth of youth, but did not require him to lean as low as he had but a year ago. Estel was starting to grow into the stature of his Numenorian heritage. "Ai, Tittlepin, I wish we did have lots of elven children for you to play with. I, too, was raised by those much older than myself, but I at least had my brother. I understand your loneliness. What can I do to aid you?"

Estel inhaled the warm, sandalwood, scent of his Adar, the only father he had ever truly known. "I don't know. Mama says she had lots of playmates when she was my age. Could I visit the village she came from?"

Elrond began to walk again, although he kept a comforting hand upon Estel's shoulder. "If I considered it safe I would gladly allow you to return to Bennas-gobal. But Eriador is grown wild and the orcs more numerous. There have always been orcs of course, but they have become more devious and organised of late. Sauron sets his webs wider and wider and the young chieftain of the Dunadain would be a tender morsel indeed."

Estel shuddered, remembering all too clearly, his personal encounter with orcs. "Why does Sauron hate the Dunedain so?"

His protector considered how much it was wise to tell Estel at such a young age. "The Dunedain are sworn to protect all mortals living within the ancient kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. Although in practice Gondor, and many of the other territories to the south see to their own defence in these days, leaving the Rangers, your people, to tend the northern lands. To capture their leader would be a coup indeed and that is why you have been given shelter here."

Seemingly content with this explanation Estel walked in silence for a few steps, allowing Elrond the luxury of listening to a woodpecker tapping in the canopy high above them. "Why is Sauron so nasty?"

Elrond's mind tripped into overdrive. How to explain the nature of evil to one so young. "You ask a difficult question, Estel. I think one can only fully comprehend evil when one is evil. He is a Maia, originally one of Aule's helpers. As is often the case, Sauron was not born to evil, but he fell under the influence of Morgoth, who is now bound and banished to the Void."

Estel frowned. "But that doesn't tell me why he is evil."

For some moments Elrond yearned for a return to the years when Estel's only questions were, when he could play and what he could eat. "When one is as strong as a Maia it can be easy to take what you wish for, rather than to ask for it. For some, their pride will not allow them to imagine that another's need may be greater than theirs. If you remember nothing else of our conversation today, remember this . . . with power comes responsibility. Just because you can wield power you should not always assume that it is right to do so."

"I don't have any power," Estel observed a little sullenly.

Elrond squeezed the lad's shoulder. "Everyone has power. It is just that they do not all express it the same way. Your day will come, Tittlepin."

-0-

Gilraen tucked a sumptuous cushion into the small of her back before accepting the cup, sitting within its delicate saucer, from Elrond. The two sat in his private study, taking afternoon tea together. Gilraen had never encountered this particular meal before her arrival in Rivendell and soon discovered that she rather enjoyed it. She set her tea aside as Elrond offered a small plate and a platter of cucumber sandwiches.

"I have never seen any of the other elves partake of afternoon tea and I know this is a hobbit custom, but you only met Master Baggins recently and you have offered me tea ever since our arrival." She selected a sandwich and shook out a finely embroidered napkin, spreading it on her lap.

Elrond sat. "I heard of it from Gandalf, the wizard. He has been visiting the Shire for many years. Indeed, although he is quite elusive on the matter, I am inclined to believe that he had a hand in the settlement of hobbits in the Shire. He brought back many tales of afternoon tea with the Took family and was quite forthcoming when I requested details." He paused to study his delicate sandwich. "I have grown quite fond of afternoon tea."

Gilraen smiled as she took a sip of her fine rose-petal tea. "There is something quite peaceful about it, and often it's the only time that I can tie Estel down for long enough to get him to tell me of his day."

"And it is of Estel that I wish to speak today," Elrond stated.

His guest sighed. "What has he done now? Has he demolished another pell . . . forgotten to prepare for his lesson . . . put a frog in someone's boot?"

Elrond chuckled. "No, no. He has been a model pupil of late. Did he tell you that he and I shared a walk yesterday?"

"He did. In fact, he said he enjoyed it because otherwise the day had been boring."

"And thus, we have arrived at the nub of the conversation I wished to have with you. It has been so many years since there has been a child in the valley that I had quite forgotten something very important." Elrond took a bite of his cucumber sandwich.

"Oh dear. Is there some lesson we have neglected? His days are already so full of learning," Gilraen replied with a sigh.

"That is the problem. His days are filled with riding, fighting, reading, history, mathematics and all the other things essential for a future chieftain of the Dunedain, but he has little time for fun. And he has confided that he misses being able to play with others of his own age."

Gilraen nodded. "It is the one thing that has always worried me about raising him here. Not just the lack of children his own age, but of mortals. But I don't see any way around the problem, other than returning to our village in the Angle."

"And that is not safe, until he is fully capable of defending himself." Elrond refilled their teacups before continuing. "Estel has proved himself quite proficient at need, but not sufficiently so for defence in open combat." When Gilraen's face clouded with recent memory he pressed on. "Your folk are doughty warriors but over the decades your village has been overrun several times, and any defensive wall can be brought down, given time and determination. Orcs can be very determined."

Stirring a little honey into her tea, Gilraen considered for some time, aware that Elrond waited as patiently as always, to hear her reply. Finally, she had to concede defeat. "I am at a loss what to suggest. We cannot import a gaggle of children at will."

"Indeed not, and few of my people would consider raising children in these times. No children have been born within this valley for nearly a thousand years and those mortal children of your kin, who came here for refuge, usually had brothers or sisters for company." Elrond's kindly tone softened the sting of his words, for Estel's lack of a sibling had long chaffed upon Gilraen's fae. "What youth cannot provide, family must replace."

"How?"

"Estel has long been considered more than a fosterling in my family. He has become as dear to us as son and brother. And he has made a friend of all who have came into contact with him. We have concentrated for too long upon providing knowledge, but play and simple fun are as important to life as any formal education." Elrond's gaze lifted to the painting of Celebrian, hung above the fireplace. "When my children were growing up there were, even then, few other young people within the valley. Celebrian would often make a point of packing a picnic and insisting that we spend time together, as a family."

Gilraen's heart lifted. "What did you do on these picnics?"

"We climbed trees, raced our horses, swam in the lakes, and played silly games. We talked and sang, or simply walked in silence, sharing time together."

"I cannot imagine you playing silly games," Gilraen confessed with a disbelieving laugh.

Elrond's eyes twinkled. "I have my moments. But what say you? Perhaps we could arrange time together, you and I, the twins, perhaps Faerwen and even Erestor? There are many places within the valley that I suspect neither you nor Estel have yet seen."

Gilraen looked beyond the windows, closed against a cooling autumn wind. "I think I would like that and I am certain Estel will also. He is always so much brighter on days when he has been riding with Elrohir."

"Then, that is settled. Do you have any suggestions for outings?"

"Well, there is a trail I have heard of, leading to an outlook that sounds perfect for a picnic."

"I believe I know the one you refer to, but it will be sunny tomorrow and perhaps we can combine learning with play. I do not believe Estel has learned to swim yet."

Gilraen set down her cup. "Er, no. He has not."

Elrond frowned. "Is there some reason that this suggestion disturbs you?"

"I fear that swimming is not something we had much time for when I was a child. We splashed about in streams and ponds, but swimming was not considered a skill worth teaching, particularly to girls."

Elrond did not miss a heartbeat. "Then you must learn. Swimming is not only good exercise, it is quite enjoyable, particularly on a sunny day. Do you have a pair of old breeches and a close-fitting shirt?"

The lady did not look too convinced. "I suppose. But is it wise to go into deep water, weighed down by clothing?"

The twinkle reappeared in Elrond's eye. "Of course, on the whole, elves are not so concerned with decorum and will happily swim naked, but I thought to make some concession to your modesty by ensuring we all wore something. If you would rather swim without we can happily accommodate your wishes." He tightened his lips against a laugh as Gilraen's face coloured.

"No. I think Estel would prefer everyone to wear clothing. He is yet young." She took a hasty swallow of her tea. "And it is likely that if he falls in a river he will be wearing clothes, so it would be wise for him to learn to cope with it."

"Then it is settled. Tomorrow we shall start out after breakfast and make for the lake beyond the birch grove."

8