Healing Hope

Chapter Twelve

The Candle

“It is better to light just one little candle

Than to stumble in the dark.

Better far that you light just one little candle

All you need’s a tiny spark.

If we’d all say a prayer that the world would be free

The wonderful dawn of a new day we’d see

So if everyone lit just one little candle

What a bright world this would be.”

Anon

“My boots is cold,” said Estel.

“What?” asked Legolas, confused by what the boy was saying.

“My boots is cold. See!” Estel held up a bare foot and wiggled his toes. “My boots is cold.”

“Oh,” said Legolas, finally understanding what the child meant. “You mean your foot is cold.”

“That’s what I said,” frowned Estel.

“No, you said...”

“Forget it, Legolas,” interrupted Elladan with a smile. “He forgets his “f’s” when he is upset. Isn’t that right, Puppy?”

“I’m not a puppy,” contradicted Estel with a nod of his little head, “I’m a boy.”

“A boy with a cold foot I see,” said Elrond, entering the room and gracing his youngest with a smile.

“Ada!” squealed Estel in delight.

“Elladan, whatever are you doing?” questioned the elf Lord to his son who was currently on his hands and knees beside Estel’s bed.

“I’m looking under the bed for Estel’s sock,” explained the muffled voice of Elladan. He rose up and sat back on his heels. “It’s not under the bed. Estel how do you manage to lose your socks like that?”

“I don’t know,” apologized the child.

“All is well, Estel,” soothed Elrond. “They probably got caught up in the bedding when it was changed. Besides, I just happen to have a fresh pair right here.” He indicated the fresh tunic – specially fitted to accommodate being put on around a cast, leggings and socks that he carried in his arms. “You know what that means.”

“Not a bath,” whined the four year old.

“Yes,” confirmed Elrond. “a bath.”

Elladan and Legolas smiled at the interplay between the two. It was the same every day. Estel hated the ritual because it had become an ordeal to bathe the child while keeping the cumbersome cast dry. It took two to accomplish the feat and the task had been shared by Elrond, the twins, Legolas, Erestor and Glorfindel. Today it was Elrohir’s and Erestor’s turn to help.

“Where is Elrohir?” asked Elrond.

“Here I am,” announced Elrohir as he walked into the room. He held a stack of books from Estel’s room. On top of the stack was the carved replica of Asfaloth that the child loved to play with. Along with Asfaloth was the stuffed “Fluffy” that Estel adored and snuggled with each night. Erestor had made the stuffed version of Estel’s favorite pet so that the child could have an indoor Fluffy to accompany the outdoor version that now resided in the stables with his mother and siblings.

“Blubby,” smiled Estel tiredly.

Elrond frowned slightly. Estel had worked hard to learn the proper pronunciation of his “f’s” and had been proud of his progress. Now he only lapsed back when he was extremely tired, agitated, or felt bad. Elrond felt of Estel’s cheek. It was pink colored and warm to the touch.

“I believe we will skip your bath for tonight, Estel.” He sat the fresh clothes on the bedside table. “However, I do want you to put on these socks. Hold your foot up here.”

Estel obediently leaned back onto his pillow and held up his foot. He chuckled softly as he wiggled his toes to make it harder for his Ada to get the sock on.

Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas were immediately at Estel’s bedside looking on with concern.

“What is it, Ada?” asked Elladan.

“Estel has a slight fever,” responded the elf Lord. “I do not wish to chance him becoming chilled in a bath.”

“Ada?” whispered Elrohir, a frown marring his fair face.

“Did we overtire him?” asked Legolas.

Elrond smiled his reassurance to the three young ones as he sat on the bed beside Estel and wiggled the socks onto his feet before placing them firmly back underneath the blankets. He patted Estel’s leg. “How would you like to hear a story?”

Estel nodded his head. His eyes were becoming slightly glazed as the fever elevated.

“Legolas, would you tell Estel a story while I prepare some tea for him?”

“Honey, Ada,” pleaded Estel, drawing a smile and an affirming nod from his father as he rose and left the room.

Legolas chuckled and sat down on the foot of Estel’s bed. “What kind of story would you like to hear, Estel?”

Legolas frowned as Estel’s eyes welled up with tears. “What is it, little one?”

“Estel?” said Elladan and Elrohir together.

The little boy looked back and forth between his gwadors and his new friend and sniffed. “I don’t beel good.”

Elrohir felt of Estel’s head and was alarmed at how hot it was. He kept his face and voice light as he addressed his brother. “I will go make sure that Ada puts lots of honey in your tea, Estel.” He nodded for Elladan to follow him.

“Legolas will tell you any story you want to hear, little love. Elrohir and I will be right back.” He followed Elrohir hurriedly from the room. They wanted to alert Lord Elrond to the child’s spiking fever.

Legolas was uncertain for a moment. He was not used to being around children, especially sick ones. He determinedly put a smile on his face. “What would you like Estel?”

“Wanna rock,” said the little boy miserably. His head hurt and he felt hot and cold all at the same time.

Legolas could see him shivering.

“I think we can make that happen,” replied the prince. He lifted Estel from the bed and wrapped the child’s favorite yellow blanket securely around him before sitting down with the child in his lap. Estel put his head against the prince’s shoulder and sighed. Legolas was surprised at how hot the child’s body felt.

“Are you warm enough, little one?” asked the prince.

Estel nodded his head contentedly. He loved to be cuddled and rocked.

It was the first time that Legolas had sat in this rocking chair with the child. Glorfindel had specially crafted the chair for the healing wing when Estel was just a two year old and cried for his mother. They had all recognized how the rocking motion soothed the child as they walked and Glorfindel fashioned the chair so that they might continually rock the babe. Legolas was not sure exactly how it would work, but he quickly got the rhythm of it and Estel sighed again as the motion soothed him.

“I will tell you a story now.” Desperately Legolas searched his memory for a suitable story for the little boy. Spying a candelabra holding four candles on a table across the room he smiled, for he now had the exact story in mind. It was one that his father had told him when he was young and would ask about his mother.

The twins were walking back into the room, so Legolas asked them to light the candles and to set them over on the table beside where Legolas rocked Estel. Next he asked them to extinguish all the other oil lamps or candles in the room.

When the four candles were lit and they had completed the other tasks, the twins sat down on the bed beside the rocker. Legolas’ face was washed in the soft glow of light as he smiled at Estel.

Estel was enchanted watching the cheerful flickering of the four candles, which now provided the only light in the room. He smiled because the muted light made him feel cozy and safe. Ever since Quenthar had buried him in a box Estel had been afraid in the darkness.

Legolas’ melodious voice added to the ambiance as he began his simple story.

“Once there were four candles burning for Arda. The first candle was named Peace. Bravely Peace struggled to stay lit as beautiful Arda was beset by anger and fighting. Finally Peace spoke to the other candles. ‘Arda is besieged by Orcs and Wargs, and Fear. I cannot stay lit any longer.’ And with that the candle of Peace went out.”

Legolas licked his thumb and forefinger and reaching up, extinguished the first candle. Estel’s large eyes blinked as he considered the now dark and smoking candle.

“The second candle,” Legolas continued, “was named Faith. Faith was very sad that Peace was gone from them and spoke to the other candles. ‘I am no longer indispensable to Arda, and many hearts have turned away from me. I am sorry, but I can no longer stay lit.’ So the candle of Faith left Arda.”

Again, Legolas reached over and snuffed the second candle. On the bed across form him the twins were as enrapt as Estel in the story, for they had never it before. Unbeknownst to them all, Lord Elrond had silently entered the room along with Glorfindel and Erestor. They stood quietly in the shadows listening to the story which Legolas told. Estel frowned as he looked at the two darkened candles. His bottom lip quivered as he struggled not to cry.

“Now the third candle’s name was Love. Love flickered bravely beside the two dark candles. Love tried hard to burn bright enough to compensate for the darkness left by the absence of Faith and Peace, but he could not. ‘Nobody thinks me important any more and so they put me aside. They don’t even think to love those nearest them. I can no longer light Arda.’ So Love’s light went out like the others.”

Legolas glanced down as he reached to put out the light of third candle. Tears were now freely running down Estel’s cheeks, though he said not a word. Legolas could not resist bestowing a soft kiss to Estel’s forehead before continuing the story.

From the bed across from Estel and Legolas now barely visible in the darkened room, Elrohir turned to Elladan. “The story’s supposed to make him feel better, not worse,” he whispered just loudly enough for Legolas to hear and not Estel. The prince just smiled in return.

“There was a special little boy who had broken his arm and did not feel very well.”

“Just like me?” asked Estel, still sad, but now intrigued by this new development. The soft candle light reflected in the tear tracks on the child’s fever heated cheeks as damp eyelashes batted slowly.

“Just like you,” answered Legolas. “And just as loved as you.”

“The little boy came and saw the candles that were not burning any longer and he was very sad. He had hoped that the candles of Peace, Faith, and Love would make him feel better. Distraught, the little boy began to cry. ‘You are Peace and Faith and Love,’ said the little boy to the silent and dark candles. ‘Arda needs you and I need you. You are supposed to burn forever.’”

In the darkness Glorfindel smiled as he remembered being told this story in a slightly different form by his mother. Of course in his story it was a little elfling and not a boy, and the elfling did not have a broken arm.

Beside him Erestor sniffed quietly. He was more affected by the tale than he thought he would be as he watched the faces of the young ones reacting to Legolas’ words. He remembered the twins as elflings and the many times they had sat in his lap listening to stories. How innocent they were then, before the evil had reached out to snatch their mother from them.

Elrond was the most still of all as he watched the face of his youngest. His gift of foresight came to him in the dim light…and he realized that sometimes it was also a curse, for he could see his young one struggling for so much of his life against the darkness…struggling to keep Peace, Faith, and Love alive in his heart and in the hearts of those around him.

His heart ached as he watched the tears flow down Estel’s cheeks and he wished with all his heart that he could keep the child here with him and safe for his whole life…could lessen the struggle he was destined to fight.

The soft voice of Legolas brought him back to the present.

“‘Do not be afraid,’ said the fourth candle to the little boy, ‘for I am Hope. While I am burning the others may still be lit.’”

Legolas sat up and took the fourth candle from its holder and handed it to Estel. “Here Estel, light the other candles.”

He held Estel close to the candles and allowed him to light each one in turn before placing the fourth candle back in its place. A small smile now graced the child’s face as he watched the four candles once again flickering together. The light wrapped them in a comforting glow of warmth.

“You see,” continued the prince, settling back into the welcoming arms of the rocker, “the flame of Hope should never go out from life. With Hope, each of us can live a life filled with Peace, Faith, and Love.”

All was quiet in the room as Estel considered the story he had just been told. “So Hope has to be stronger than Peace and Faith and Love, doesn’t it?” he asked.

Legolas considered the question. It was a fair question and a good one. “I would say that it does, Estel, for without hope it is impossible to have the others.”

Estel again looked at the four candles.

“Do you have hope, Legolas?”

The prince was surprised at the question and looked into the serious face of the child in his lap. He smiled as he realized that he did have hope in his life. “I have you, Estel, and that is all the hope I need, is it not?”

Estel smiled, “I’m not hope, I’m just a little boy.”

Elrond shivered as he realized the burdens that Estel would one day carry upon his shoulders.

Beside him Glorfindel reached out to place a comforting hand on his arm. “Lay aside the future for tonight. For now, let us just enjoy him for the joy he brings into our lives.”

Elrond nodded. “You are very wise, my friend.”

“What good is returning from the Hall of Mandos if you cannot bring a little wisdom with you?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

“Ada!” Estel said as he spied his father. “Legolas told me a story about Hope.”

“So he did,” responded Elrond, handing the cup of herbal tea to Legolas so that he could help Estel sip it before it cooled too much. “So he did…”

Legolas noticed the wisp of sadness in the way the words were spoken and glanced unsurely at the Elf Lord.

Elrond noticed and placed his hand on Legolas’ shoulder. “You did well, Legolas, to remind us of the importance of hope, for it is truly the most important candle in Arda.” As he spoke the Elf Lord looked at his young son thanking Eru once again for the tiny ray of Hope that had come into their lives.

TBC