Aragorn heard voices from the Queen’s garden and paused at the window to observe. Eldarion and Legolas were playing “going to Mordor.”

“Frodo” wore a real cloak from Lorien with a rather prominent ring, woven from straw, on a string around his neck. “Gollum” was suitably nasty, half naked and smeared with mud. Aragorn scanned the garden. Near the fountain in the center, he saw an overturned flowerpot next to a discarded tunic and a pair of boots.

“Gollum” was receiving last-minute pointers on his behavior. “Crouch a little lower. Gollum used his hands as much as his feet. Now show me how you can sound like him.”

“Gollum” cavorted energetically around “Frodo”, growling out suitable choking sounds and ‘my prescioussesses’ until he came to a dramatic stop just under the window and proclaimed “Yellow face, it hurts us!” And caught Aragorn’s eye.

Laughing, the king stepped over the low sill into the garden.

“Papa!” The delighted childish voice rang out. “Come play with us. Legolas gets to be Gollum, but you can be Sam.”