âMany are too frightened to see the beauty that lies in the darkness of night,â The lumbering man glanced back toward the forgotten king at his side, eyes glinting in the dark, refracting that full moonâs light and casting that enchanting blue glow. âYou are young still, Elessar.  Your heart yet tainted by all this darkness.â The hound took pause and knelt down before the boy, cupping his face between those calloused hands and giving him a meaningful look. âYou must promise me, for all the days that you walk upon this world that you will not let the darkness frighten you too.â He cupped a hand down to his chest, right over his heart. âYou are good, young one. Your heart is pure and I know it will remain as such for so very long. You will make a great warrior against the darkness one day. I promise you.â He gave the boy a hug then, âAnd I will be there to help you for as long as I can, my dear friend. I promise you.â
         Estel had always been drawn to these woods  ââ  even at night,Â
          where darkness and the sounds of night once  frightened  him
          when he was smaller.   Now, he was still yet a child, but wore
          a sober, serious expression as the large man spoke. Blue-grey
          eyes focused on him unerringly,   an age in them that was so
          beyond his handful of years.Â
            He didnât flinch as the man knelt before him and the large handsÂ
             touched his face;    he heard the advice with the barest furrowÂ
             between his brows and so many questions in his eyes.Â
         âI promise,â said he,  a quizzical lift to the end of the words and
          yet so serious in their meaning. The hug wasnât unwelcomed;
          he returned it,  but once he pulled back small fingers gripped
          at the houndâs sleeves. âYou speak as though something bad
          is coming.â  There was no fear in it: a somber understanding,Â
          perhaps. He had heard the tales.Â