What animals!

A Little Estel story

 Estel came racing down the steps and into the dining hall. “Good morning, Ada! Can I go see the kittens?” asked the excited five-year old.

“Good morning, ion in. You should say ‘May I go see the kittens.’ Yes, you may, but only after you finish breakfast. Come, I’ll help you up.” The Lord of Imladris suited action to word and set Estel on top of the cushions piled on the chair.

As soon as he was served, Estel started to shovel the food into his mouth. Elladan and Elrohir entered the room as Estel was eating.

“Muindor tithen, take it easy! Do not put so much in your mouth at once,” said Elladan. Estel nodded, trying to swallow the mouthful of food.

Estel, with assistance from the twins, cut the pancakes into smaller pieces. Finally, he was finished. He squirmed as Elrond gave the patrols their assignments for the day.

Finally, came the words Estel wanted to hear. “Shall we go see the kittens, ion nin?” said Elrond with a smile.

“Aye!” said Estel as he raced for the stables ahead of his father. He waited, fidgeting impatiently as Elrond took his time.

Having reached the stables, Elrond and Estel entered the stall where the kittens were sleeping, nestled in the straw. All Estel could see was a mass of black, white, and ginger fur. The kittens awoke as they entered. There were four of the small creatures and they were in a mood to play.

Estel laughed as the black and white kitten pounced on a small insect that was crawling near him. Losing interest in the insect, the kitten started to stalk its littermates. It ended with the kittens in a mass of fur.

“Would you like to hold one?” asked Elrond, knowing what the answer would be.

“Aye!” came the excited reply. Smiling, the elf Lord picked the ginger kitten from the pile and brought it over to Estel. He showed him how to hold it so it would not be injured.

There was a delightful look on Estel’s face as the kitten licked his nose. “His tongue is rough, Ada!” exclaimed Estel. “It tickles!”

“His tongue is rough because he must use it to clean his fur,” Elrond explained. “I think he misses the others. Mayhap we should return him,” said Elrond as the kitten started mewling. The kitten was put back and the kittens began a mock battle among themselves. They were falling over each other and rolling on the hay.

After watching them slap at each other and rolling around, Estel looked at Elrond. Putting his small fists on his hips, with a disgusted look on his face told the Lord of Imladris, “Ada, those kittens are acting like animals!”

Elrond had to agree that the kittens were certainly acting like animals. Estel wondered, though, why Elrond sounded as though he were trying not to laugh. Estel shrugged, not understanding the grown-up mind.

However, Elrond never forgot about Estel and the kittens, and even, to his foster son’s considerable embarrassment, told Legolas the story. That, the ranger told the elf, was definitely NOT appreciated! The elf only laughed - and later passed the tale on to Eldarion.

A/N My number three daughter actually said this - except she was sixteen at the time! LOL!