Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, places, events, and concepts are the property of the J.R.R. Tolkien estate.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the late update, everyone. My weekend was busier than expected, and I've currently been doing this fic as a WIP. One more chapter after this one, and then it is all over.
Hopefully, the next update will be Thursday or Friday…no promises.
For those looking for the twins, Elrond, and Celebrían, you will get your last glimpses of them in the next chapter. I have story bits littered in a circle around me, and just need to pull them all together.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to review Chapter 13---I truly appreciate each and every one of your comments. Therefore, I am again happy to present the
Responses to Reviewers!!
*Nikki: Unbearably adorable? Aww… Legolas makes a cute little kid, doesn't he? I'll try to "keep up the excellence"!
*Zoya: Glad you liked my name for the tadpoles…Old English etymologies always come in handy!
*PokethePenguin: Legolas needs the pollywiggles? *Legolas nods emphatically* Sorry that I haven't carried on "real soon"…but is this still soon enough?
*Saera: *jumps around nervously on tiptoes* Yes, you got your point across…unfortunately I have been pretty busy. Of course, it is up NOW.
*orion: I'm glad that you like Celebrían's little change. Other author's have done her so much better than I have, but I had to have a little conflict. I'm glad that you love my story as well!
*daw the minstrel: Yes, I agree, a few pollywiggles are a good thing! A good thing that Legolas didn't bring home grown-up frogs, or bugs! I'm glad that you are enjoying seeing Thilómë and Celebrían get along better too.
*Dragon: Two reviews! Two are twice as nice.
~On Chapter 12: I'm glad you liked the Elrond/Celebrían bit…it's difficult to delve into the lives and experiences of new characters, even if other author's have done an excellent job of developing them (authors like, oh, you!). Happy that you liked the parts with Celebrian and Thilome as well. : )
~On Chapter 13: I'm sure Thilómë was more than a little surprised—good thing she didn't drop that vase! Happy that you appreciate Legolas finding something enjoyable to do with Arasil, for friendships don't always work out perfectly at first.
*Elgalromen: AWANA is a worldwide children's church group. I help with a class of K-2 grade kids…they keep me on my toes.
Glad that you liked "pollywiggles". I came across the etymological term for "pollywogs" and couldn't resist! And yes, the picture of Legolas and Arasil playing leapfrog is a funny one…especially considering that Arasil is a good nose and eyes taller than Legolas, and Legolas is this skinny little thing who has never played the game before. It presents a very ungraceful, but adorable, picture.
*fan81981: Two reviews for me from you! I love it when people review by chapter!
~Chapter 12: Happy that you liked my ending line…it seemed rather appropriate. And yes, Celebrían shows some sense…and real compassion. And no, it's not exactly easy for Thilómë…Linnin is gone, but there are still reminders; and Legolas is wonderful, but brings a burden with him. No…it isn't easy. *sad smile*
~Chapter 13: "Pollywiggle" is actually the Old English etymology for "Pollywog": "poll" is "head", and "wiggle" is "wiggle"…so a pollywog is essentially a wiggling head. I couldn't resist the old term and had to throw it into the story. : )
LOL over your detest for tadpoles…I too think they are rather gross now, but have fond childhood memories of them.
Yes, Legolas's parents are too overprotective…and I agree, more exposure to other kids (and trouble) would be good for him. LOL over the mischievous children comment!
And Celebrían is growing on you? I am fairly sure that her face is glad of missing a good bruise.
*YoshikiSquall: Hi there! I agree, Legolas is a cute child! Keep reading!
*Iluvien: Glad someone appreciated the cake! As for Ada and Nana not letting Legolas keep the tadpoles, that is his own assumption, since Nim mentions it. Being a little kid, Legolas decides to hide the pets…without realizing that Nim will probably mention them to his parents anyway. As for actual reasons for making him take them back…imagine the child's face if those pollywiggles started doing the back float (we won't let that happen).
Sorry to here about your pool! That would be messy!
*Ana: Chapters are too short…the next one will be rather long, since I need to pull everything together. Glad you like them even if they are short!
*Karri: Going on hiatus is bad? Good thing I already know what I want to write about. And yes, Legolas deserves to play like the little kid that he is. And you're going to try to teach your niece and nephew the "pollywiggle" term? Adorable! We really should use Old English more often…
*EireCat: Wow! Glad that I improved your weekend! You like Legolas's new pets? He likes them too. I think he'll manage okay with some help…Elves have that nature connection, you know.
I agree…Legolas needed to be able to play with another little kid…and Arasil is a good candidate: he doesn't let the prince thing get in the way, gets irritated over Legolas's weakness but works around it, and is a messy little kid.
*SperryDee: It's okay if you're late in reviewing…I have never seen/read Harry Potter, so I guess I don't need to worry about the "basilisk". Good luck with your computer privileges.
Yes, Legolas has been caught! I think Nana is just a little too surprised to get really upset…
*abomination: Hey, he had to put them somewhere, and they could always snack on the flower stems! Thinking that they were in the bathtub was supposed to happen…no one is supposed to know where the tadpoles are until Thilómë finds them!
*Galadriel Lorien: So you thought the tadpoles were in the tub too, huh? *laughs* Personally, I would not want tadpoles in my bath…but a little Elfling might think differently.
You will love me forever if I put the twins in again? There's a snippet of them in this chapter, and a tad more in the next. : )
And 99.9% of your attention was on the story? That last .1% must have been focused on something pretty important… : )
*Dragon-of-the-north: Hey, I know you didn't review yet, but I know you're coming! Hurry back to Hamburg!
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Everyone else: No response for you. I'd make you feel really sorry for yourself, but I'm in a hurry and have to post before my wonderful reviewers kill me. : )
Comments and questions are always welcome!
---Aranel
aranels@hotmail.com
***A special thanks to those who have recently added me to their favorite stories/author's lists! You know who you are, you great people!***
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Chapter 14~*~Patience, Brightness, and…Something More
"There," Elladan carefully set the large glass bowl on top of Legolas's dresser, staring at the fat tadpoles inside of it, "They should be much happier in there."
"Thank you," Legolas pushed excitedly in front of the older Elf, eager to peer at his pets again. His brother and the twins had poured them from the vase into the bowl, and now they were much easier to watch.
Thilómë walked into the room, smiling at Aldandil, Elladan, and Elrohir, "It is bedtime for little Elflings, so the three of you had better say good night."
"They're little Elflings too," Legolas announced, his attention diverted from the tadpole bowl to the three older Elves, "Let's tuck them in first."
This comment drew amused laughter from the older Elves, and Elrohir scooped the child up, depositing him on his bed, "No, I think we had better tuck you in first."
As Legolas scrambled into a sitting position, he found himself covered in falling sheets and bedclothes. He crawled and pushed his way through them, eventually emerging from the tangled mess.
"Quel du, quel du," Aldandil chanted, flapping the wide sheet out and letting it fall billowing over his brother. He grinned and left the room with the twins, waving good night.
Tiring quickly from his tunneling and a busy day, Legolas settled into his bed, enjoying the feeling of the soft sheet falling over him. His mother pulled the rest of the blankets up, "Quel du, glî." She swept a fall of downy hair from his forehead, kissing him goodnight.
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"Elrond, you are the best healer in all of Arda," Thranduil glanced at the half-Elf sitting across from him, "You have seen my younger son; watched him play. What do you say of his condition?"
Elrond tried to relax in his chair, but that was difficult when discussing such things. This was something he had thought about, but had hoped Thranduil would not ask. He looked to the ruler of Mirkwood, smiling a little, "I spoke truly when I said that Ilúvatar had bestowed upon you a good gift."
Thranduil nodded, realizing that the comment had been given to soften words that would follow. What was coming now?
"A good gift…" Elrond repeated, trailing off as he caught Thranduil's worried look. He laid a hand on the Elf's shoulder, sighing, "A good gift in weak packaging, I am afraid." Elrond gave Thranduil a determined look, "He will grow and strengthen. Be patient."
Be patient. Thranduil's mind caressed the words… Be patient, yes, but for how much longer?
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Thilómë felt the weight of her husband sliding into bed, and nestled herself against his form. Powerful arms rested around her shoulders, and Thranduil's strong but gentle fingers lay spread over her neck. Ah, to feel so safe and secure, and yet not smothered. She turned her head to look at him, smiling, "I nearly thought that you were going to leave me alone here tonight."
"I was speaking with Elrond," Thranduil traced the arch of his wife's collarbone with a finger, then buried his nose in her silky hair, "You need not fear though, for I enjoy your company far better than his."
"Good," Thilómë laughed quietly, rubbing her thumb across her husband's knuckles, "What were you talking about?"
"Legolas," Thranduil responded, lifting his face from Thilómë's head.
Thilómë shifted until one of Thranduil's arms was around both her shoulders, her head nested in the spot against his shoulder and neck that Ilúvatar seemed to have fitted perfectly for her. She knew how her husband worried for their younger son sometimes…concerned not so much over the little things, but over the big issues. Thranduil so desperately wanted to know---to know---that his son would be strong someday, someday not so far away. He wanted to be sure that Legolas would be able to wield a weapon, protect himself, make a place for himself in the world. Thilómë breathed her reply, "Legolas will grow up strong and fine. He has you." She turned to her husband with a smile, "He brightens every day. Take those bright moments. That is our son…that is what we get to see of his spirit for now."
Thranduil nodded, a hand massaging his wife's shoulder. Be patient, take the bright moments…
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Legolas sat up in his bed, suddenly aware of the thundering downpour outside. A flash of lightening lit up the sky, filling his room with a split second of intense light. The Elfling grabbed for a particular blanket, sliding out of bed. Tonight would be a good night to check on Ada and Nana.
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Thilómë rolled over drowsily, feeling a small body snuggling down between her and Thranduil. She blinked a few times, "Legolas, what are you doing here?"
The Elfling drew closer to his mother as another rumble sounded outside, "I want to be with you and Ada."
"You want to be with Nana and Ada, hmm?" Thranduil grasped the child and rolled over so that his son was perched on his stomach. It was never a good thing to have Legolas scared for long…the childhood worries weighed on him too deeply. He tickled the Elfling a little, and then sobered when Legolas abruptly stopped giggling as the thunder rolled over again. A flash of lightening outlined the frightened features of his little one, and Thranduil let the child grasp him firmly around the neck. He patted the Elfling's back, "Be calm, Legolas. It is only a spring storm."
"It sounds mad," Legolas nestled himself between his parents again, shoving his feet under the sheets, "Like it would eat me."
"It would only get you very wet," Thranduil reassured his son, rubbing the child's shoulder. Be patient, take the bright moments…this was not a bright moment, and it did not seem fair for the Elfing to be so scared. The Elvenking tucked his son's blanket around him, "Besides, it is outside and you are right here, with us. And it is not mad tonight, just excited. The earth has been calling for water, and the clouds are now happy to give it."
Legolas took his father's fingers in his own small hand, gripping them tightly. Happy or not, the storm sounded powerful, and it was good to be so near his Ada.
Thranduil felt the little fingers curl around his own, and passed his thumb over them. No, this was not a bright moment, not exactly…and this too was his son, this frightened little child. Be patient, take the bright moments…Thranduil lay back, mulling everything over, for the advice did not seem complete.
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A while later Thilómë stretched a bit, turning to look at her husband. Legolas was still wedged between her and Thranduil, now peacefully asleep. However, he still had a few of his father's strong fingers laced through his own.
Thranduil blinked, hearing his wife's shifting movements. He glanced to the small hand still clasping his own, a bittersweet smile on his face.
Be patient, take the bright moments…and love whatever remains.