Alexa sat on a bench in the gardens, and continued reading the book on Elven history that she had gotten from the library. It was difficult to read, though, for it was written entirely in Elvish. She smiled slightly. ~It appears that I shall improve my speaking of Elvish and learn my history at the same time.~ She glanced up sharply as a young boy began running towards her. The boy was running rather recklessly, and he tripped on a tree root that was in front of her. Alexa reached out quickly and caught the lad before he hit the ground. She steadied him and looked into his mischievous blue eyes.
“Are you hurt?” Alexa asked the boy.
The boy shook his head, and glanced nervously around. “Please do not tell them you saw me,” the boy begged.
Before Alexa could ask whom, the boy ran and hid behind a tree. She glanced back and saw Elladan and Elrohir approaching. Both appeared to be quite harried and out of breath. Alexa’s eyes widened as they neared. Elladan had numerous twigs and leaves in his hair, and Elrohir’s tunic was completely covered in mud. She suppressed a smile, for she was unaccustomed to seeing the two normally well groomed elves so disheveled.
“Hello, Alexa,” Elladan said. He blushed as he looked at her. “Did you see a small boy run past here?”
Alexa shook her head and smiled. “No, I have not, Elladan,” she said sweetly.
Both brothers sighed. “Now we are going to have to search for him all over again,” Elrohir grumbled.
“Yes, I know,” Elladan replied, his voice full of annoyance. They looked back at Alexa. “Goodbye, Alexa,” Elladan said.
Alexa stifled a laugh. “Goodbye.”
They both waved and ran off in search of the boy. Alexa laughed as she watched them run away. She turned towards the tree that was concealing the child.
“You can come out now. They are gone,” she said, and motioned to him.
The boy peered out from behind the tree and glanced suspiciously around. Once he deemed it safe, he came out from behind the tree and walked over to her.
“What is your name?” he asked, glancing at her shyly.
Alexa smiled at the adorable little boy. “Alexa. What is yours, my young lord?”
The boy grinned at her. “Estel. Lord Elrond is my ada, and Elladan and Elrohir are my brothers. Do you have any brothers?”
Alexa grinned. “No. I have no brothers or sisters. I am staying here with my ada, Lord Glorfindel.”
Estel’s eyes brightened. “I know him! He is my ada’s friend, and he is always nice to me.”
“I am glad that you like him, Estel. He is a good ada.” Alexa replied. She glanced towards the way that Elladan and Elrohir had gone. “Why were you hiding from your brothers, Estel?”
Estel grinned. “We were playing a game. They are supposed to catch me, but I always get away from them.” He looked at her, a huge grin on his little face. “Do you want to play?”
Alexa looked at him in surprise. “Play? I am afraid that I do not know how to play any games, Estel.”
Estel’s mouth fell open, and he stared at her in surprise. “You do not know how to play?”
Alexa shook her head. Estel’s eyes brightened. “Then I am going to teach you how,” he said determinedly, and took her hand.
Alexa smiled and allowed Estel to lead her to his playing ground. He released her hand and turned to face her.
“Now, I am going to run, and you are supposed to try to catch me,” Estel said authoritatively. “Do you understand?”
Alexa suppressed a smile at his lordly manner. “I think I do, my young lord.”
Estel grinned. “Good. Here I go!” he shouted, and ran away.
Alexa laughed and began to chase after the boy. After a few moments, she could see how the little boy had managed to frustrate Elladan and Elrohir so badly. He was like a little mouse, so quick and able to crawl into tiny spaces. She almost caught him several times, but he always managed to escape at the last moment. She stopped and watched Estel as he ran away. Her mouth curved into a wry smile. ~I know just how to catch him.~ She crouched low and hid behind a large boulder in the field. Several moments later, Estel came running past her, and she jumped out from behind her hiding place and caught him. She held the little boy tightly as he struggled.
“I have caught you, my young lord,” she said triumphantly. “Do you surrender?”
Estel struggled for a moment longer, and then relaxed. “Yes,” he grumbled.
Alexa laughed and released him. Estel smiled up at her. “You are good at this game. Elladan and Elrohir never catch me,” he said.
Alexa smiled. “Thank you, Estel. You are a good teacher.” The boy beamed up at her proudly, but then quickly ran and hid behind her as he saw Elladan and Elrohir approaching. Alexa smiled innocently at the two Elves.
“Yes? Were you two looking for something?” she asked sweetly.
Elladan smiled wryly at her. “I believe you have found our missing brother, Alexa,” he said and pointed at Estel, who was peering out from behind her.
Alexa smiled. “Oh, yes. Estel and I were playing a game.”
Elladan grinned. “We saw. We were watching you two.”
“How did you manage to catch him?” Elrohir asked.
Alexa shrugged. “I suppose I am just good at this game,” she answered, and smiled brightly at the two of them.
Elladan grinned and caught Estel. He picked Estel up, and set him lightly over his shoulder. “We had better get you back to the house, little one,” he told Estel. “Father will want to know where you are.”
Estel frowned. “I want to stay and play with my new friend some more,” he whined.
Elladan grinned. “You can play with her more later,” he said, and winked at Alexa.
Alexa smiled. “Yes, Estel. You can come see me any time you want to, and I promise we will play more.”
Estel nodded and the brothers grinned at Alexa. “Goodbye, Alexa,” they said.
Alexa smiled. “Goodbye.”
They turned and began walking back to their home. Alexa grinned as Estel waved to her. She waved back and returned to the gardens. She picked up her discarded book from the bench and walked back to her home. Alexa smiled as she thought of her new little friend. She had never known many children, and this particular one was adorable. She frowned slightly. ~I wonder when Estel arrived in Rivendell. I do not remember Lord Elrond having a human son when I was last here. I wonder who this little one is.~
