First, I would like to thank my loyal reviewers who have followed me since The Prophecy: Berianireth of Lorien, Glory Bee, Paperlantern86, Lady Minuialwen and ccgnme. It is definitely readers like you that keep me motivated!
I would also like to thank the readers that I have heard from for the first time on the last chapter of The Prophecy or on the first chapter of Children. Eva Sirico, Ayanna, Cotton Strings, Aureleis, faye50free, shephine, breneke87, AnnaComnena, iloooveinuyasha1, thank you for letting me know how you have enjoyed my stories.
I hope all of you will enjoy the second chapter. We will be making a bit of a jump in time in this chapter, as we will have to do in many following chapters, if we ever want to see the elflings become adults... Now back to the story.
End of chapter 1:
Valerie could not find anything else to say, but the gentle smiles on the faces of the Valar told her she had said the right thing, despite her lack of eloquence. She bowed one last time, turned around and walked swiftly to the doors. Once she was out of the hall, she started running, only stopping when she arrived in the courtyard. Everyone was on horseback, as promised by Haldir. Valerie jumped on her mare, and Haldir gave the departure signal. They soon were on their way to New Imladris, and no one looked back when they left the courtyard of Lord Tulkas' castle.
Chapter 2 – A not so peaceful life
New Imladris, 4th year of the Fourth Age by Gondor reckoning
The celebrations were in full swing in Lord Elrond's house. All the citizens of New Imladris were gathered in the great hall for what Lady Valarie had called an Open House. Yes, the vast manor was only half finished, and many citizens would be sharing houses for another few years – but at least the first phase of the construction had been completed on time. And on budget – Lady Valarie liked to add, but for many elves, money was an abstract concept.
Lady Celebrian, ever the perfect hostess, was walking to all groups gathered in the hall and was exchanging a few words with everyone. Lord Elrond was proudly offering a tour of the first aisle to his closest friends.
Valerie was standing with the architect Lord Eriston in the middle of the room, receiving the thanks and congratulations of the elves present at the celebration. She was a little overwhelmed by all the attention. She had done her job, and knew she had done it well, but it was going against her natural modesty to be at the receiving end of such praise. An arm gently snaked around hers, and she smiled to Lady Galadriel who was pulling her away from this slow and intense torture.
"You should learn to accept well deserved praise, my child," the Lady chided softly in her ear.
"I do not think I will ever learn that, my Lady."
"Come, have some wine with me in the garden. I need to talk to you for a moment." Lady Galadriel led Valerie to the refreshment table and asked for two glasses of cold white wine, which they sipped while walking in Celebrian's garden.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Valerie asked, hoping the Lady was happy with the royal talan that had been completed a few days before, built in the nearby forest. Lady Galadriel only had been entitled to visit it earlier that day, and Valerie had not seen her lady since then. Did she not like the fact that the royal talan was a replica of the Lothlorien one, but much more comfortable? Valerie had also made sure to have portraits of the family hanging on the walls, even one of Lord Celeborn. Maybe Lady Galadriel thought she had been indiscreet by making such decisions?
"Stop being so nervous, Valarie, your thoughts are making my head spin!" Lady Galadriel snorted. "On the contrary, I wanted to tell you that I like everything about my new home. And all the Galadhrim like their new city in the forest. It reminds them of Lothlorien, but with a modern touch." The lady stopped walking and turned to Valerie. "You have been very selfless in the past three years. I know you have not seen your children half as much as you wanted, and that this was a great sacrifice for you. I have spoken to Elrond, and asked him to slow down the schedule of the second phase. After all, there is no more emergency at this point, since most citizens are comfortably lodged, if not in their own homes."
"I admit it would be a relief if I could spend more time with the children. I also need to think of my own home! I do not want to intrude on Lord Elrond for too long." The New Imladris Lord had offered Haldir and Valerie to provide them with a roof until they had time to build their own home. Since their family was, and by far, the biggest one in Valinor, she did not want to monopolize that many rooms for a long period of time.
"I am sure my son-in-law will not mind at all, Valarie. I wonder when you will stop worrying about being a bother to us. You are an asset for our realm, in fact one of our greatest ones. All the kings in Valinor envy us to have you." The lady laughed when she saw Valerie's blood had all gathered in her face.
"I love to make you blush. Even Haldir can hardly make you blush so thoroughly, and the Valar know how he could if only he knew how to!"
"Please do not give him any hints on how to achieve that," Valerie replied mischievously, finishing her glass in one gulp. "Have you seen him lately? I have not seen him in the last hour or so, I think."
"My Marchwarden is attending the Open House of Lord Ionor." Galadriel was satisfied when she saw Valerie's immediate reaction to her statement.
"What? We are celebrating the end of the first phase, and Haldir is with his friend?"
"The house was finished last week, Valarie."
"But he did not tell me!"
"Did you not tell him that you did not want to hear about that house a year ago?" Galadriel inquired, knowing she was right.
"I did not feel it in our bond either," Valerie pouted.
"Oh Valarie, you and I both know that Haldir and you block some of your thoughts, and it is fine..." she added quickly, "as long as it is not relating to the love you share, or the things that you both consider important. I must admit that I did the same with Celeborn..." she trailed off, her heart flipping in her chest each time she thought about the mate she had not seen in years, and that would only sail when her grandsons would.
Valerie put a comforting hand on Galadriel's arm, offering her some support. Only Galadriel's closest circle knew how difficult this separation was for her.
"Enough dark thoughts for today," the Lady decided. "We are invited to Lord Ionor's Open House. I suggest that we make an escape by the back entrance of the garden, and walk to his house. It will only take us a few minutes, and the night is ideal for a nice stroll."
"Yes, my Lady," Valerie answered, swallowing her first reply that she had absolutely no intention of going to visit this house if Haldir did not have the decency of inviting her himself. "But I need to make sure my children are safely in bed before I leave."
"Worry not about them, my sweet child, Haldir brought them there already."
"Surely you are jesting? I put the youngest ones in bed myself two hours ago! As for the older ones, only the Valar know where Thomas and Adam are at the moment!"
"I just told you, Valarie, all your children are with Haldir as we speak."
Without another word, Valerie grabbed the Lady's arm and pulled her in the direction of the gate at the end of the garden. Lady Galadriel laughed all the way to Lord Ionor's house, finding highly comical the fact that Valerie was on a warpath for such a trivial thing. Her surprise would only be greater later in the evening.
The two ellith arrived soon enough to the house in question. Valerie had to admit to herself that Haldir and Lord Eriston had done a great job with this house. It was small as compared to the manor, but nevertheless, it was the second biggest house of the new realm. Its roman columns gave it a style that no other house had, but Valerie knew that the second phase of construction would probably have many houses copying this one, in a smaller size, of course, as it was too vast for the average elven family.
As they arrived in front of the house, Valerie realized that if a celebration was underway in the house, very few people were in attendance. No sounds could be heard, despite the fact that lights were seen at every window. She assumed the guests were in the garden in the middle of the house. She was eager to see it. Lady Celebrian had told her that the sunlight was penetrating the garden all morning, but that welcomed shade reigned in the garden in the afternoon, allowing Lord Ionor's family to enjoy quiet afternoons in the shade.
Deep in her thoughts, she only realized at the last second that many people were standing at the top of the stairs, mainly her family along with Nimmel, and four elves she had met at one point in the past three years, but none of them were close to her. When Haldir saw Lady Galadriel and his mate, he walked down the stairs to welcome them. Adam and Thomas were making sure that their younger siblings would remain at the top of the stairs with them until their Ada had properly welcomed their naneth and Lady Galadriel.
Haldir kissed the Lady's hand first, and then gave a quick one on Valerie's lips, earning laughter from his children.
"Come on, Ada, you can give her a better kiss than that!" cheered Adam behind him. Haldir gave Valerie another kiss, barely longer than the first, before he turned around and took the arm of each elleth beside him.
"Haldir..." Valerie said softly. "I am very impressed... I had no idea that a warrior such as you could suddenly turn into an architect and contractor... Your friend Lord Ionor must be very pleased..."
"Lord who?" he asked, smiling at Lady Galadriel.
"Your friend Ionor, Haldir," Valerie insisted. "He must be so pleased with your work. This is one of the nicest houses of the realm."
"I do not know anyone called Ionor. Do you, my Lady?" Haldir asked Lady Galadriel,
"Actually, I do not," the elleth replied seriously.
Valerie watched them both, puzzled. Then she heard the giggles of her children, and saw the smiles of Nimmel and the elves that were standing in the stairs.
"What is going on here?" she asked, hating to be the clueless one of the entire party.
"This is our house, Nana!" screamed Narwen, jumping up and down, earning the disapproving glares of her older siblings.
"Shut it, Narwen!" cried Oropher before mumbling his apologies when Nimmel put a warning hand on his shoulder.
"Our house?" asked Valerie, not quite believing her ears.
"Yes, meleth – my love, this is our house. And these elves are your staff." The elves bowed to her at his words.
"But Haldir..." she whispered in his ear, stunned. "This house is too big for us! And servants? Why would we have servants? This has to be for some well-known lord and lady, not for us!"
"I think you are forgetting that in Lothlorien, Haldir and you were the second lord and lady in status," Lady Galadriel reminded her.
"But... this is not Lothlorien, this is New Imladris!"
"A New Imladris which you have helped build, Valarie. It is time that you realize that you are an important lady in this new realm, and that you start living as such."
"But it is too big! People will talk!" she whispered again.
"Meleth, our children are growing, and will only require more space as the years go by!" Haldir replied.
"But they will leave us eventually," she whispered in an even lower tone to ensure her children would not hear her. "Oropher and Gil-galad will go live with their people, Elros will probably want to live in Lord Elrond's manor. The twins will move in with Elladan and Elrohir one day, also in Elrond's manor... We will be left with a big, empty house..."
Lady Galadriel started laughing. "Valarie, you are assuming that your reborn children will leave you once they reach their majority. This is not what I have foreseen! Your children love you, and although they will live with memories of both their lives, you have made a significant enough mark on them that they will never be able to stay far for too long... You will see! You will have constant guests in your house, to the point where you will sometimes wish to have some more space!"
"Val, are you still worrying that people will gossip and think that you are not a true elven lady?" Haldir asked.
"Lady Lithil reminds me every time I see her," she mumbled.
"Stop worrying about Oropher's first naneth, and only listen to what I am telling you," Lady Galadriel chided for the second time that evening. "You deserve what is happening to you, and everyone except Lithil agrees. No one will make negative remarks about it, they will all think that it is about time that you live as you should."
"Come one, Mom!" called Thomas from the top of the stairs. "We are waiting for you!"
"Stop fussing!" added Adam, earning his mother's glare.
"Nana, you should see my room! I have a room all to myself!" insisted Elros.
Haldir dragged both ellith in the stairs, although Galadriel was not visiting the house for the first time. She had indeed given numerous advices to Haldir during the construction. She had liked to help build Valerie's house while Valerie was building her own royal talan. It was the least she could do for the half-elven elleth that had devoted years to the well-being of the citizens of Lothlorien and New Imladris, and more specifically hers. Valerie was a devoted friend and companion like Galadriel had rarely seen, and she liked that red fury immensely.
Haldir introduced Valerie to their staff, and then gave her a tour of the house, while each of their children was showing her their bedroom.
Each one of their children had a bedroom, and the twins' rooms were connecting so they could be together whenever they wanted without having to go in the hallway. Already, they all had moved their personal belongings and treasures in the new house.
"Haldir, there are too many bedrooms," she told her mate once they had visited the two family living rooms, the receiving rooms, the kitchen and the huge dining room. She had counted 12 bedrooms while they only needed 9 for them and the children. Obviously, upon her arrival in Valinor, Emily would live with Erestor in Lord Elrond's manor, therefore not requiring a room in her parents' house.
"There are three guest rooms," he replied.
"And where will you live, Nimmel?" Valerie asked her mother-in-law who was following them.
"Probably in Lord Elrond's manor. I have been living with Lady Celebrian for years..."
"Nimmel, I think you should live with us," Valerie offered. "At least until Fin.." she stopped, knowing she had almost slipped in front of her youngest son. "Until the circumstances change. Haldir and I would really like that," she insisted, feeling her mate's silent approval through their bond.
"Well... I do not know what to say..." Nimmel hesitated, hating to impose on her son and his wife.
"Say yes," answered Lady Galadriel who had appeared in the dining room, caressing the polished surface of the imposing table made of mallorn wood. "It is about time that Celebrian and you stop living like you have no family in Valinor. That time is over now."
"Yes, it is over," mumbled Nimmel, looking at her son and daughter-in-law, and glancing quickly at her 8 year-old mate. "I shall live with my family," she decided, giving them a troubled smile.
OoOoO
New Imladris, Year 15 of the Fourth Age
Cilil sat on a blanket placed under the shade of an ash tree close to the river. The housekeeper of the Marchwarden's family kept an eye on everyone at all time, making sure that the children were safe while they played in the river, that their little bellies were full and that no one needed anything she was in charge of providing. Lady Valarie liked bringing her children to the river for picnics as she called these outings. The Marchwarden was usually joining them, but not this time. Lord Haldir had stayed in New Imladris with Lord Adam, for some sort of warrior training before a tournament. Lord Thomas was spending the week in Tirion for a series of concerts and Lady Nimmel had gone with him to visit her friends. That only left Lady Valarie and herself to watch the children, who were now between 24 and 17 years old.
The city of New Imladris had been completed two years before, and Lady Valarie was spending a lot more time at home with her children, to their delight. Between their lessons with their private tutors and the activities with their naneth, these children had hardly any minute to feel bored. They were quite a spoiled bunch, as far as Cilil was concerned, but an enchanting and fascinating one.
Her lady suddenly appeared at her side, sighing. "Cilil, I think this is the last time that we will take them for a picnic without a third adult. These children will be the death of me."
Cilil laughed out loud. Her lady was so spontaneous, and always said the funniest things about her children, as if she did not like them. She even sometimes called them Haldir's children, generally when they misbehaved. But it was obvious that each and every one of them was as precious to her than her own life. Cilil had been the housekeeper of various high ranked lords and ladies in the past centuries, and had sought employment in New Imladris to live a more serene life. She chuckled at the thought. Did she really have a more serene position in the past 11 years? Obviously not. But what she had lost in serenity, she had gained in closeness to the family she served. Never had she been considered part of the family by her previous employers. For the first time, she was privy to the lives and secrets of the family. Actively participating in their day-to-day activities. And she loved it. She was hoping to serve Lady Valarie and Lord Haldir for a long time. A very long time. Centuries if she could choose.
"I cannot get used to how slow their development is," Valerie said.
"The Lords Thomas and Adam are half-elven, this is why they became adults as 18," Cilil said. "For all of us around, it is the fact that their development was complete years ago while they only are 33 and 30 years old that is strange."
"But I thought it would be the same for the rest of my children. They grew like human children for their first 15 years, and then, they stopped changing! Oropher grew an inch in the last 11 years! One poor little inch!"
"And he will grow at that slower rate until he reaches 30. And then, he will start growing more steadily until 45. At that time, his physical development will be complete, and his mental development will be done 5 years later. They will all follow that path. You know this," she reminded Valerie.
"I cannot stop worrying that something is wrong. For mortals, a sudden halt of growth is sign that the child has a development problem. What if..."
Her sentence was suddenly cut by screams in the river. Gil-galad was splashing vast quantities of water in Narwen's face, and the young elleth was screaming in fury, trying to reach him to hurt him while he laughed at her attempts. Both Valerie and Cilil knew this was brotherly banter, that Gil-galad had a weakness for his youngest sister. So did Oropher and Adam, who could not resist giving Narwen everything she asked for. Thomas, Elros and Finalfin were closer to Norin. It was funny to see how the twins had managed to separate the attention of their brothers evenly between them. Valerie wondered if that had been a coincidence or if this had been carefully planned by her daughters. Who could know with them?
Elros and Finalfin were watching the scene with Norin, helping her as she struggled to swim in the current. While Narwen excelled at physical activities, such as horseback riding, swimming and tree climbing against her parents' commands, Norin was the more intellectual one. The older twin was an excellent harpist at age 17, something that had never been achieved before by such a young elfling. She also spent many hours a day reading and doing the assignments her tutor was giving her. Something Narwen avoided at all costs.
"Help me!" Narwen yelled to her brothers.
"You deserved it!" Oropher replied. "How many times did he ask you to stop pinching him under the water?"
"Gil-galad!" their naneth shouted from the shore. "Leave your sister alone!" Narwen gave a triumphant smile to her brother, who could not help but start splashing her again. Her screams reached the highest level yet, and Oropher threw himself in the battle, delighted that Gil-galad had succeeded yet again to make Narwen lose the little control she had.
"Narwen Haldiriel! Do not think I have not seen that smile of yours! I am not blind!" called their naneth again. "If you do not stop screaming, you will come and sit with Cilil and I for a long time!"
The threat was heard and disregarded with enthusiasm. Valerie sighed. "I am telling you, Cilil, I will not survive their childhood. I have no idea where Narwen got that character of hers." The housekeeper had a good idea, but diplomatically did not tell Valerie. The Marchwarden's wife had quite a reputation already in Valinor, and people were wondering what life in New Imladris would be with Lady Valarie and an adult Lady Narwen in the vicinity. Life would not be boring, that was for sure!
Valerie swiftly walked to the river, and tried to catch her daughter from the shore, without success. Taking her decision rather quickly, knowing her daughter needed to realize she was never threatening in vain, she literally plunged into the fray, soaking wet her favorite yellow dress. She caught a red braid and pulled, immediately getting her daughter's attention.
"I told you to stop screaming," Valerie scowled as she grabbed and pulled her daughter out of the water.
"See you later, Red!" teased Narwen's favorite brothers, using the nickname Adam had come up with when everyone had discovered how Narwen loved fighting with her brothers. He had said it was the perfect name for a red-headed little soldier like her.
"You will pay, morons!" she yelled back at them, half-angry, half-laughing as she was dragged to the blanket where Cilil was waiting with another blanket to cover her little body.
Narwen sat on the blanket with her mother and Cilil for what seemed like hours, but was barely half an hour. Bored, she decided to read Cilil's thoughts, barely containing her laughter when she realized Cilil was assessing the damages to her naneth's yellow dress and deciding to which seamstress she would bring it for repair.
"Stop reading my mind, young Lady," the housekeeper suddenly chided, having felt the intrusion in her head.
"I cannot help it," she mumbled.
"Try to!" was the terse reply from her naneth. "The last time we had a formal dinner at home, you did it too much and made yourself sick!"
"But Naneth, when there are too many people around me, I do not even have to enter their minds... When there are a lot of noises around, everyone screams their thoughts at me, as if they were trying to hear themselves think!"
Her naneth turned around and looked at her seriously. "Truly? In crowds, people's thoughts are louder and reach you without effort?"
"Yes," replied Narwen, happy that her mother did not seem angry with her anymore.
"And how is it at home? There are lots of people and lots of noises!"
"I can manage our family, Nana. It is when there are a lot of strangers, like more than 20 people that it gets difficult."
"I had never noticed that Narwen's migraines coincided with the festivities in our home," Cilil told Valerie.
"Me neither," Valerie replied, looking at her daughter with worry. Narwen's migraines had been frequent in the past few years, to Lord Elrond's dismay. No one had been able to pinpoint the reason for their appearance.
Narwen felt's her mother's guilt. "Worry not, Nana. I should have told you before. I had never realized you did not know the impact of the celebrations in our home," the elleth said, caressing her mother's cheek. "Can I go back in the water now?"
"No! I am still cross with you!" Valerie snapped.
Narwen knew she was being lied to, but did not show it. She decided to use a tactic that worked most of the time. Her naneth's curiosity was endless. "I can tell you a secret," she taunted.
Immediately, her mother's expression changed. "Do not think I will give in with such tactics," she replied.
Cilil looked elsewhere, trying to avoid Valerie's gaze. Both ellith were regularly tempted by Narwen, and gave in more than half the time. The temptation was just too great.
"It is a good one," promised Narwen, testing her naneth's resistance. "About one of my brothers," she added when Valerie did not react.
Valerie's head turned to Narwen, evaluating her seriousness. She then looked at Cilil, who imperceptibly nodded. Was it really reprehensible to want to know what was going on in your children's lives? Surely, as a mother, she could not be blamed, no? What would Haldir do? Haldir and his chivalrous principles. He would certainly say no and punish Narwen. But Haldir regularly used the information that Valerie had gathered in such a distasteful way, the hypocrite. Should she say yes?
Narwen was following her naneth's thoughts, knowing she had won. She would be in the river within the next minute. Worse case scenario, five minutes. And then, Gil-galad would pay. She would drag his head under water by pulling his white braids hard, and then, climb on his head to keep it under water until he choked, the damned teaser.
"It better be a good one," her naneth warned.
"Thomas has a lady friend in Tirion!" Narwen said, jumping to her feet and running to the river.
Valerie and Cilil looked at each other. That had indeed been a good one.
Valerie went from surprise to outrage in an instant, skipping understanding completely in between. "Wait until he gets back home, the little liar!" Valerie fumed. Cilil sighed. Poor Thomas did not know what fury would be unleashed when he would be back home the following week!
OoOoO
"Why did you have to tell Mother that I am seeing someone?" Thomas yelled, storming in the youngest twin's room. He did not know that Adam was there too, telling Narwen of his performance at the practice for an upcoming tournament in Valimar. Narwen liked to listen to his training stories.
"You are seeing someone?" asked Adam, grinning at his discomfited brother.
"You see, you can put your foot in your mouth all by yourself," Narwen teased him, knowing Adam would protect her if Thomas tried to lightly slap her bottom like he did when she was younger.
"Anyone I know?" continued Adam. Contrary to Thomas, Adam's love life was very active, and very public.
"I would not care for your leftovers," Thomas spat.
"Hey, show some respect for the ladies," teased Adam, knowing Thomas was not being disrespectful on purpose. How many times had Thomas told Adam that he should find one nice elleth and settle down? Adam had stopped counting at 100. This lifestyle was not for him. He would do like his ada, and spend centuries having many female friends in his bed, until he found the right one. The elleth who could make him settle down was probably not born yet!
"She is not from your circle," Thomas said, sitting down on the bed.
"Did you sleep with her?" Adam inquired, waving his eyebrows, completely disregarding the female elfling that was also sitting on the bed.
"Stop talking of such things in front of our underage sister!"
"Thomas, my poor brother, if you only knew what Narwen knows just from listening to our thoughts! Not everything she hears is elfling-rated material!"
"That does not mean that we should talk about sex in front of her!" Thomas said, switching to English.
"Thomas, may I remind you that we all speak naneth's language in this house?" Narwen replied in perfect English.
"I have to go," Adam said, switching back to Sindarin. "Let me know if you need some advice about... you know what. You lack the experience that I have, if you know what I mean..." Adam left Narwen's room, barely avoiding the pillow Thomas had thrown in his direction.
"I am sorry, Thomas," Narwen said. "I should not have told Naneth."
Thomas pulled her on his lap. "Apology accepted. It has been a long time that I wanted to tell Mother but never found the courage to do so. You forced me to face the issue."
"Was Naneth very angry?"
"Not angry that I am courting someone. Angry that I hid it from her."
"Naneth does not like being lied to, Thomas," Narwen reminded him. "You do not need to read her thoughts to know that."
"I know." He stayed silent for a few minutes.
"Can I sing for you? To make you feel better?"
"What do you want to sing?" he asked, touched that she wanted to please him with a song.
"That harp piece you have taught Norin last month? The opera being played in front of the Valar during certain ceremonies? Norin taught me the lyrics."
Thomas looked at his youngest sister. Narwen seldom sang. She was humming frequently, but not singing. To be offered a song was a great gift from her. Even if the song was dreadful with the voice of an elfling with no particular musical talent.
"Yes, Narwen dear, sing for me. I would like that."
As her voice rose in the room, Thomas became more and more appalled. How could he have been oblivious of Narwen's beautiful voice? She mastered the intonations of that song like a professional singer on the Valimar choir. She had the voice of an angel.
His ada suddenly appeared at the door, looking for the origin of that unknown voice. Thomas and Haldir exchanged a look of wonder, and Narwen, reading their surprise in their minds, stopped singing.
"What?" she asked, feeling insulted.
"Continue your song, my sweetheart," Haldir said, taking his youngest daughter in his arms. "You sing wonderfully. I want to hear you more."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, iel nin – my daughter. Start from the beginning." Haldir and Thomas tried to control their thoughts while Narwen finished her song. Once she was done, she casually asked if she could go play, oblivious of the impact of her song on her ada and brother. She went in Norin's room by the connecting door and closed it behind her.
Norin was reading on her bed. She barely lifted her eyes from her book.
"You know you will be forced to sing in public now, right? I have foreseen it," Norin said.
"No one will force me to do anything I do not want."
"You will see!"
Narwen watched her sister for many minutes, searching for a way to get her attention. Norin surprised her by closing her book forcefully.
"You should never have told Naneth that Thomas is courting an elleth. You hurt them both."
"I had to find a way to go back with Oropher and Gil-galad!"
"We have discussed this before, Narwen. You have to talk to me first before you play with the lives of Thomas, Elros and Finalfin. They are mine to care for. Did I ever do something harmful to Adam, Oropher and Gil-galad?"
"You would never hurt anyone or anything," mumbled Narwen. Under her sister's insistent stare, she continued: "No, you always let me take care of them without intervention."
In their own way, the twin sisters were using their powers watch over their family, and had come to an agreement many years before about who would ensure the well-being of each of their brothers. They had naturally chosen the ones that were closer to them in character. They knew that somewhere in Middle Earth lived an older sister they could not remember at all. She would have to take care of herself when she arrived in Valinor. She had a mate to care for her anyways. She was not of their concern. But their unbound brothers needed them. So were their parents. Narwen and Norin were equally making sure that their parents were happy and in security. That was in their nature.
"I hope we will not have to have this discussion again," Norin chided. Very few people had realized that Norin was the true leader of the twins. Only their close family. Narwen was taking most of the space when they were in public, and people usually assumed she was the dominant one in the relationship. Anyone who had seen Elladan and Elrohir's behavior knew that the most serious twin was the one that was keeping the wildest one in check.
"We will not, sister," Narwen promised. She jumped on Norin's bed and snaked her arms around her twin. "Have you foreseen what we will eat for dinner?"
"No," Norin laughed. "But I know what it is because I heard Cilil give orders to the cook this morning."
"And?"
"We will eat pasta tonight."
"Yes!" Narwen screamed, delighted. The cook had learned many recipes from their naneth's world, and was serving them regularly. Many people in New Imladris were eager to be invited to their home to taste some of the strange cooking. "Do you think we will get French fries later in the evening?"
"We had some last week!"
"They are very addictive..."
"I know... Maybe you could ask the cook? As a gesture to beg my forgiveness for this whole matter of Thomas and his lady friend?" requested Norin.
"I will do it, but not for you!" Narwen replied. "I will do it for Thomas!"
"You do that!" Norin dismissed her sister by taking her book back. Narwen had not even noticed, running to the kitchen the minute her last word had crossed her lips.
Norin smiled. Narwen was a real sweetheart, when you learned to disregard her sharp edges. Her next thought made the smile disappear from her delicate features. How would Narwen react to the fact that somewhere in Middle Earth, two twin brothers were considered their future mates?
Norin had seen them both in a vision. She had observed two black-haired ellyn with their backs to her. One of them had turned around and looked at her with a kind smile. The ellon was astoundingly handsome, stunning even. An improved version of Lord Elrond with some of Lady Celebrian's features. At first, she had thought he was her fëa-mate. That was until the second ellon had turned around to look at her. His eyes had burned her very soul. He was watching her with contained passion, his desire to make her his easily readable. She would never forget that vision, although she carefully made sure to never think about it when her sister was around.
Norin had no idea how the adults around them had successfully hidden the existence of their mates from her sister. They must have guarded their thoughts as much as Norin herself did around Narwen. Would Narwen's mate know how to deal with her difficult sister?
Furthermore, how would her brothers react when they learned that they were reborn elves? This was an even bigger secret that their parents and relatives was keeping from their children.
Strange and constant worries for a 17 year old elfling. How many more years of peace would her family have before all hell would break loose?
OoOoO
"Your Narwen is quite an active elfling, Valarie," the Lord of New Imladris was telling her. "She will keep misbehaving if she does not spend all that energy that she has."
"I know," Valerie sighed. "She is what we call a tomboy in my world, a female elfling that acts like a male one. Sometimes, I wonder if she does not have attention deficit."
"Your daughter does not have attention deficit," Elrond replied. He had read about that disease in the medical books Valerie had brought from her world. "But her mind reading abilities are not helping her concentration."
"It has been a while now that I am considering the idea of introducing male activities in her schedule."
"I think it would be best. Maybe she should go horseback riding many times a week, long rides."
"I thought about that. But... what do you think people would say if I started training her... with twin blades and bow, I mean..."
"Since when do you care about what people say?"
"I generally do not care about what people think of me. But this is my daughter we are talking about. I do not want her to be rejected socially because she is being raised like an ellon."
"Your concern honors you, Valarie. Your daughter is already frowned upon because of her wild behavior. Her new activities need not to be made public for all to discuss and see. And it will help her control her body better when she is in public gatherings."
"What do you think is causing this incessant restlessness?"
"I have my theory... I think Narwen feels the separation from her future fëa mate more strongly than Norin."
"Why would that be?"
"Maybe the bond between Elladan and Narwen is stronger? Maybe her fëa is weaker? We will not know if far away in Middle Earth, Elladan is suffering also. I hope not."
"If he is, I hope he will sail before the appointed time in 33 years!"
"In the meantime, I think your idea of giving Narwen some hard weapon training would do her much good. You could get help from Adam and Haldir, and not bear the weight of her uprising all alone."
"Wait until Haldir hears that! He allowed me to train as a warrior back in Middle Earth because I had been attacked by an orc. But his precious daughter is safe and sound in Valinor. He will see no justification for that. I do not want him to turn into Rumil, when he heard Nellethiel had been also trained by Lady Galadriel!"
"It is up to you to make him accept that, Valarie. You are a formidable negotiator. I am sure you will find a sledgehammer argument to convince him."
"Do not put the bar too high," sighed Valerie.
OoOoO
"Meleth, I am planning to go to Alqualondë to meet with a shipwright," Haldir told Valerie one evening as they were in bed.
"So you have finally decided to get that boat?" Valerie asked. She wondered why her mate had waited for the end of a particularly passionate lovemaking session to tell her about it. That was his predictable tactic when he wanted to get her to agree on something she was not in agreement with. The fact was that in that case, she could not care less about that boat Haldir had been dreaming of for months. In Valinor, all the warriors were still training hard, but all of them were lacking one important thing: adrenaline. War-like excitement was missing in the elven land of peace. Hence Haldir's desperate need for a small, speeding boat to sail around the east coast of Valinor. Many ellyn were eager to join him on these trips, Adam being the first. Lord Elrond himself had been seen listening to Haldir and giving advices about the boat and its required shape and sails to reach the highest speed possible.
"Yes," he answered, stroking her stomach with a distracted hand. His hand slowly went to caress the apex of her thighs while he looked at the wall as if a picture of his future boat was displayed on it.
"Haldir, you know I will be happy for you if you find an activity that thrills you. Really. But do not bring that boat into our bed. You either caress me properly, or you do not touch me!" she said with humor.
Haldir's hand stopped its ineffective roaming, and he looked at her with all his attention. "You must understand, my love, that with the family that we have, managing everyone's expectations will be difficult."
Valerie was puzzled. Not only Haldir had stopped caressing her, focused on the visualization of his future boat, but he was also trying to convince her to acquire two of these. Now she understood why this conversation had waited after their lovemaking. Two boats! If she was reasonable, she could understand that with six sons and one wild daughter, Haldir would need more than one speed boat that usually fit four adult elves. She also perfectly knew that Adam would be captain of the second boat, and that races with Haldir would be routine. The Valar protect them!
Valerie knew how Haldir was feeling. Life was good but a little on the boring side for people who loved action. She herself was spending a lot of time with the children, but she knew she was desperately lacking interesting activities. She was thinking of starting to train again, this time with Narwen. This was much better than the gardening, cooking and tapestries she had tried in the past 2 years. Insipid. Monotonous. Deadly boring. If Haldir had not known already that she could not possibly have worked on these tapestries serving as alibi during her warrior training with Lady Galadriel, he would have discovered it by now.
No, she could not blame him. But she could use it to her advantage. She smiled ferociously. A formidable negotiator she was indeed.
Haldir's expression changed dramatically when she told him the condition to her acceptance would be to let her give a warrior training to their youngest daughter. After an argument that lasted for more than an hour, he stormed out of the bedroom to go sleep in one of the guest rooms.
Valerie fell asleep shortly after, only to be awaken by Haldir in the middle of the night.
"Meleth – love, do you really think that this is what our Narwen needs?"
Valerie rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the sleep from her mind. "Is it morning soon?"
"No. We have a few hours left before sunrise."
Valerie sat, resting against the bedhead. "Yes Haldir, this is what she needs as much as you need those boats to have some thrill in your life. People will not have to know. I will train her in our garden. And I will bring her in the wild to practice archery."
"I do not want you to hide. You should not have to hide! Our daughter is not a shameful secret that we need to conceal!"
"I never said she was. I am merely trying to protect her."
"We have never limited the possibilities for our children. They are entitled to their interests and passions, and we should support them."
"I agree."
"I want you to know that I will never be ashamed of Narwen, like I have never been ashamed of you, despite the staring and gossips you have caused with your eccentricities. I love you even more for it, lirimaer – lovely one."
He quickly pulled her legs until she was lying underneath his muscular body. Valerie squealed in surprise before he silenced her with a long kiss, taking his time to explore her mouth with his tongue.
"I am proud of all my ellith," he said, finally releasing her. She could feel his hard length against her thigh. This was his usual reaction following such a passionate embrace. After 25 years of marriage, the attraction between them was still irresistible, and they were making love at least every day, more than once most of the time. The magic of elven binding allowed elves to be bound for millennia without even being tempted by another elf than their binding mate.
Valerie slightly moved her body to the side, enough to give her the required space to move a hand between them, and skillfully stroke his aching member through his black silk night leggings. Before she could realize what was happening, her night gown had been lifted around her waist and his hand was roaming between her thighs, this time around very focused on what he was doing.
"You have my blessing to train Narwen. But I also want her to be trained with her younger brothers. Adam and I will take care of that part. In exchange, I will get two speed boats."
"Okay," Valerie agreed, struggling to concentrate on his words while his fingers expertly penetrated her in quick movements while his thumb caressed her bud. "Faster..." she begged, "yes... like that..." He could have made her agree with almost anything at this point.
"You want to know the truth?" he asked, nibbling the skin underneath her ear while her pleasure kept building under his attentions.
"Whatever," she replied breathlessly. If he could just stop talking and let her enjoy the experience!
"I never thought of getting a second boat. You gave me that idea earlier tonight."
"What?" Valerie cried, violently coming out of her gaze. How could he have done that? "You liar!" she screamed, trying to shove him off her body, but his weight was too great for her to move him against his will. He remained in place, now chuckling while nuzzling her neck.
"Val, stop wriggling like that, you are tempting me!"
He was laughing, and Valerie could not believe how he had duped her. She should have known better! Two boats! But her frustration quickly dissipated with the help of his hand going back to its prior occupation.
"Will you ever forgive me?" he asked, repentant. "Gods, you are so wet. I need you. Now." He started rubbing the head of his penis against her slit, and when she opened her legs wider in acceptance, he entered her in one strong movement. They groaned in unison, still overwhelmed by the incredible sensations each one of their joining created. They started moving together, Haldir thrusting into her body while she was lifting her hips to meet his movements. Valerie grabbed his head and started to kiss her mate, sending her love through their bond. Between the physical sensations of his wife's luscious and warm core and the strong emotions she was sending him, Haldir lost control and came hard, his body tensing above hers. He groaned in pleasure, the sounds muted by her mouth. Once he was emptied of every single drop of semen his body contained, he started thrusting into her again, lifting one of her legs above his shoulder to give him better access.
"Come for me, my love. It is your turn."
"I am... close...so close..." Valerie whimpered between two moans. Haldir started to thrust into her even harder, and Valerie reached her peak in a concert of moans and hushed screams. Haldir delicately rolled them on their side and used a corner of the sheets to wipe clean Valerie's body, neglectfully throwing the sheet on the floor for the servant to pick up the next morning. Exhausted and completely sated, Valerie nevertheless had a thought for the poor elleth who had to change their bedsheets everyday.
Haldir fell asleep shortly after, his head on Valerie's pillow, a hand strategically placed on her breast and his leg between hers. She was effectively trapped in her own bed. She remained awake long into the night, excited about training her youngest daughter and slightly mortified about the two boats. She could already hear Nimmel and Tialyn laughing at her for her blunder. Maybe that should remain between Haldir and her! Two boats!
OoOoO
Six months later, the entire family was waiting in a newly built marina on the river shore near New Imladris. On the horizon, two small sailboats could be seen. The children started to scream in delight.
"Ada! Adam!" They could see the two ellyn waving back to them. When the boats finally arrived near the pier, Thomas and Valerie caught the ropes that Haldir and Adam had thrown at them. Both captains jumped on the pier and expertly tied the knots. Haldir was glowing.
"You have no idea the speeds we reached!" he told Valerie, crushing her against him. "Almost as fast as a car! Thank you, meleth!"
"What is a car?" asked Gil-galad.
"Can we sail today?" inquired Oropher.
"Tomorrow!" decided Valerie. "Ada and Adam must be tired and hungry. They have been sailing for two days between Alqualondë and New Imladris. Now let's proceed with the inauguration ceremony, I have brought everything that we need."
"Can I go with you?" Narwen asked her ada while Valerie and Thomas were getting the bottles of sparkling wine ready.
"Yes, sweetheart," Haldir replied, giving her a kiss. "I am planning to show you how to sail one of these, Narwen, I promise. In fact, I will show you all," he said, looking at his family.
"Norin, will you want to learn too?" asked Valerie.
"If you think I will sit in one of these nutshells!" she said, teasing her ada but serious nevertheless. High speeds were not for her. She would leave that to her sister and brothers.
"We are ready!" Thomas announced. He had tied two ropes to a nearby pole, a bottle at their end. The ropes were long enough to reach the hulls.
"Narwen, will you go first?" asked Haldir to his youngest child. The elfling grabbed a bottle, ready to throw it against her ada's boat.
"What is the boat's name?" she asked curiously.
"This one will be The Lady of the Sea," Haldir declared, earning a snort from his mate. "What?" he asked her.
"A very unusual name!" she teased. "Millions of boats in my world bare that name!"
Haldir did not have time to reply, as Narwen threw the bottle with all her strength against his boat. The bottle exploded, and everyone cheered in delight.
"My turn!" screamed Norin, jumping up and down on the pier. "What is the name of your boat?" she asked Adam.
"Well... I thought I had the perfect name, but you gave me an even better idea! Let's call it The Nutshell!"
"Yes!" The elleth grabbed the second bottle, and threw it against the boat. The bottle hit the hull with a loud thud, but did not break. Everyone stared in shock.
"Is this not bad omen?" asked Elros, stating the obvious. No one answered.
Valerie started laughing nervously. "Come on, everyone, we will not start believing in all sorts of superstitions!" she said, holding Norin who had started to cry. "Furthermore, Ada and Adam sailed from Alqualondë without the boats being christened and nothing happened!"
"Because of me, something bad will happen in the future!" Norin whimpered in her mother's neck. "I can feel it! Something will happen!"
"What? What do you see?"
"I do not see anything. I just feel it."
Valerie looked at her entire family, standing on the pier and sending wary glances at The Nutshell. "Come on, everyone. Norin does not foresee anything specific, so let's just be cautious. Understood, Adam?" she asked, knowing her son was not the most prudent of ellyn.
"Yes, Mother."
They left the pier and climbed the hill leading to the city. Valerie was the last, and she turned around to look at the two new boats attached at the pier at the bottom of the hill. Somehow, she was wary also. But she could not show it to her family. Her trust in Norin's sheer capabilities was unlimited. Her daughter had never been wrong in her predictions, small or important. She would have to keep an eye on Adam.
She started when she felt an arm around her waist. Haldir and Thomas had come back to get her. She felt her mate's mood was somber.
"Has she ever been wrong?" he asked, his voice low and tight.
"No."
"That is what I thought. Maybe we should just... burn The Nutshell."
"Do not be ridiculous. An unbroken bottle happened during many boat christenings, and nothing ever happened to them."
"Did it not happen when the Titanic was christened?" asked Thomas.
"Thomas!" chastised Valerie.
"What happened to that boat?" asked Haldir.
"Sank on its first journey. 1,500 deaths," Thomas answered.
"Thomas, stop! This is a legend! The Titanic had not been christened. Please, do not repeat such a thing to your siblings!"
"What are we supposed to tell them?"
"That this is just a superstition. And... pray the Valar that Norin is wrong and that Adam will be safe."
A/N: In the next chapter, another jump in time is to be expected. And an elfling will start recovering memories of his prior life... (I know I promised that the last time around, but chapter 2 was getting too big. Therefore, you will only see it in chapter 3 - very sorry!). Stay tuned, and of course, a review would be appreciated!
Annielle