The wind blew softly, casting fresh scents of the first spring rain to slip into the house unnoticed. The sun had settled over the horizon not long before, leaving everything shadowed in a dark blue. Everything was quiet, save for the swishing of the curtains floating gently on the breeze. Outside, the snow melted bit by bit, leaving a slight chill in the air. Spring had come late this year, however did not dampen the mood of the house.
Beds were filled with sleeping forms, curled up under thick coverlets, filled with the softest down from the eider duck in the valley. There were some, sitting beside a fire in their waiting rooms, quietly reading or sewing. Others sat at desks writing letters to loved ones far off in another realm.
The halls were dimly lit; candles flickering in the slight breeze, sitting in delicately shaped wall scones carved of leaves, and vines and made of bronze and brass, made by the metal smiths of the valley. In a chamber farther down the hall slept two very small children, curled up under eiderdown covers, dreaming of wonders that children dream of.
The room was dark, only the light of the fire illuminating the room in a peaceful hue. Two chairs were situated by the fireplace, one that was occupied by a lady softly humming to herself as she mended a small tunic with a tear in the sleeve. With quick fingers she repaired the hole and placed it beside her, not breaking off her song of peace. Rising from her seat, she walked over to the spacious bed and kissed each tiny head with feather light touches, so not to disturb their peaceful slumber.
She smiled down at her two children and stood there silently, watchful of any disturbance in dreams, however seeing none, she exited the room without a sound, making her way to her own chamber, where her husband surely was riffling through massive amounts of paper scattered carelessly on their bed.
Standing outside her door, she smiled knowingly as she heard the slightest crinkling of paper. She opened the door and sighed. As she had suspected, her husband was amongst piles of parchments scattered carelessly on the bed and the floor. Shaking her head she entered the room and kissed his forehead that immediately smoothed from its former frown. He flashed her a smile and pushed the scattered paper onto the floor. Pulling her down into a tight embrace she giggled softly as his kisses left no room for argument.
"Are they asleep?" He whispered.
"For the moment." She giggled again pulling his head down for another kiss.
The hours slipped by unnoticed by those within the house as the sun crested over the horizon. As the first light of day approached, there were sounds of padded feet running down the hall signalling the first awake at the break of dawn. A door shut loudly, then creaked open moments later, with those same padded feet racing back the way they had come.
She allowed her eyes to focus on her husbands face and she felt her mouth pull into a smile. Stretching, carefully so not to disturb her dark haired companion beside her, she slipped from the bed silently. Wandering over to the window, she took in the gardens below her, seeing the first buds of spring beginning to show.
Turning away from the window donning a simple robe, she heard two sets of padded feet racing to their door. She moved her mouth in a silent count to three before her door was pushed open revealing her little four year olds standing there in their nightshirts grinning from ear to ear. Kneeling down she held out her arms for a morning hug, and smiled when they charged her excitedly.
She pulled away and grinned at the youngest as he skipped to the bed and pounced on his fathers unsuspecting form. She heard a grunt of surprise and a squeal of joy as her child disappeared from sight moments later. The elder joined in as his brother was tickled by an unknown monster under the covers.
Spring was now in full bloom, and marked the day of new beginnings within the valley of Imladris. She smiled as she watched her family play for the morning, before breakfast was served, and regretfully pulled her children away from their father whose hands would surely be full on this day. Guiding her boys down the halls towards their shared bedchambers, she quickly dressed them in woollen trousers, soft cotton shirts, and a warm overcoat. Smiling once again, something she did often, she placed their feet into soft leather shoes. Scooting them out of the room, she led them to the kitchens where they would be fed, then released to the great outdoors for adventuring that all small children desired.
With squeals of laughter, the boys raced to the kitchens, darting each other as they swatted one another, stopping, dodging, then skipping a head once more. Once inside the kitchens, they slowed their pace, silently waiting as their mother walked into the kitchen behind them. She leaned over and whispered into their tiny pointed ears, and led them to the stools by the door.
They sat quietly, watching their mother prepare porridge and cut up some fruit to add to it. Small amounts of milk and honey were added to the meal and she placed the bowls in front of the two boys and eagerly they ate.
Once finished, she wiped their faces of the traces of breakfast, and scooted them out the kitchen door into the bright sunshine. Smiling satisfied, she watched as their guard followed in the shadows. Nodding once to the young elf, happy that they were watched, she slipped out of the kitchens to begin her day of planting in the gardens.
She sat back in her chair at the large dining table, listening to the various debates of the men and elves, pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance. The lady couldn't understand why her husband set meetings with these men due to them being so unreasonable at times.
A commotion outside the door caused her to stand up from her chair, fingertips placed elegantly on the table while she waited for the doors to open with either news or an explanation for the disruption. The great doors opened with a loud bang, causing her to wince at the noise, and she frowned.
In walked a large burly man, his jowls flapping with anger. Glaring at the man whose stench caused her nose to wrinkle, she waited patiently while he stormed in and kicked a chair out of his way. Her husband narrowed his eyes and stood up angrily.
"What is the meaning of this?" Her husband calmly asked, however soft it was spoken the force of it caused the man to stop his tirade instantly.
She smiled slightly, and waited.
"I would like to know why you thought it amusing to have my children restrained by one of your guards!" The man bellowed.
Just as the man finished his sentence, a small child, her child raced into the room with tears in his eyes. A large blue bruise marred his forehead, and a swollen cheek caused her to gasp. Pushing herself away from the table, she knelt down gathering her child into her arms. Whispering softly to him she asked what happened.
The small voice sobbed brokenly, as he explained the fight the brothers had with the burly mans own children. Her face hardened into an unreadable mask. Standing, pushing her son behind her skirts, she faced the sweaty man with a sweet smile.
"Pray tell, Humreid." She began. "Why your children have decided to bully small children who play amongst themselves. Explanations are needed as to why your eldest boy found it necessary to strike a child less then half his age?"
"What?" He bellowed again.
Her husband looked at her and saw his son peek around her skirts, his tear stained face frightened. "Lower your voice. There is innocence in this room where no voice has been spoken louder then one filled with love and protection. Celebrían?"
She nodded, and her face switched from one unreadable, to a stern glare directed at the man standing there flapping his arms like a chicken. "Words of warning are given for you to heed. Raise not your voice to my husband for you would find his anger less bearable then an angry mother. I take my leave." With a final nod directed towards her husband, she guided her son out of the room.
Once outside the door, she glanced down to her right. There stood her other son, tears eminent in his eyes, but held at bay for the moment. Lifting her head high, looking towards the halls of pictures, there stood three other children, two boys and a young girl, huddled together, guarded by an elven male. Their mother stood protectively over them trying in vain to allow the guard to release them.
Smiling, she walked slowly towards them, both her sons gripping onto her skirts tightly. "My lady." The woman begged, causing Celebrían to stop with one delicate eyebrow arched in question. "Please tell this guard to release my children."
"I will do no such thing." She spoke quietly. Celebrían's eyes wandered over the children being guarded. The youngest was indeed frightened, the second youngest was frightened, but a look of defiance clearly hovered over his face. The oldest child was angry, his lips curled marking anger. "Your children learn by their parents actions. Anger is clearly situated on both your sons faces, your daughter is a face of innocence and she is given passage with you lady to retreat to your rooms until my husband decides what is to happen with your sons." Without another word the lady of Imladris continued down the hall with her sons trailing along behind her.
"Watch your backs freaky half elves!" One of the boys voices trailed after them. Instantly, Celebrían stopped and spun around glaring at the eldest whose retort still echoed through the halls.
"Mind your tongue, ere I mind it for you. Keep your angry words to yourself, or you deal with me." Without another word, the lady walked casually down the halls her steps rigid from anger, but held in check for a more appropriate time. A slap echoed through the halls stiffening Celebrían's back, but she kept walking.
She turned the corner and pushed open the doors to her sons chambers and guided them inside. "Sit, and allow me to look at that face, my son." Walking to the water basin, she dampened a soft silk cloth and walked over to where her child had seated himself, with his brother sitting beside him hugging him tightly. Sitting down in front of him, she placed the cloth over the quickly growing bruise on his fore head. He winced and tried to pull back and she shook her head. "Nay, remain still."
Quickly, cleaning his swelling cheek and bruised head, she pointed to their large bed with silent instructions for a nap. With no complaints they crawled under the large counterpane and snuggled into the soft plush pillows. She nodded in approval and kissed each one before exiting the room, her calm demeanour now dissolving quickly. Celebrían walked down the halls back towards the meeting hall quickly for news on the proceedings of the day.
She knew the day had only yet begun, and would be a long one yet.