Prompt: Cold
"Do you think he's cold, Ada?"
"Who?" Elrond tucked the blanket tighter around his daughter and rested his chin on her soft hair.
"Grandfather Eärendil." Wrinkling her nose, Arwen puffed out a breath to see the white cloud it produced. "It's cold here, and colder up in the mountains, so it must be very freezing up on his ship!" Sucking on the gap in her front teeth, she swung a foot. "I bet he has to break ice off his sails and rigging."
Celebrían hid her smile in the soft fabric of her scarf. They had spent the summer in Mithlond, and Arwen had been fascinated by the Swan Ships. She had followed Círdan around, to his amusement, like a noisy puppy, asking endless questions.
"Perhaps, but Vingilótë is very special, Arwen." Moving the child to sit between Celebrían and himself so as to avoid being kicked, Elrond tapped her nose. "The Valar hallowed it and -"
"Wasn't it already hallow?" Swinging both feet now, she shrugged. "Why would you build a ship out of something solid only to have to hallow it out?"
"Hallowed, sweetling, not hollowed. It means the Valar blessed it and made it sacred."
"Oooooh."
Celebrían watched her daughter, smiling at the frown of concentration as Arwen considered the new fact.
"So...is that why Grandfather Eärendil can't land? Because he's scared?"
"Sacred," Elrond said slowly with a quelling look at his wife who was trying not to laugh. After all, Arwen was very young and Elrohir had similarly confused words around that age. "It means holy."
"It sounds awful, Ada."
Stifling her laugh, Celebrían smiled. "Why don't I go get some cocoa to chase away the cold? You two stay and talk."
She was gone before Elrond could object and he vowed to stick his very cold toes on her legs that night. "Imagine the view he has of the world, Arwen."
Leaning against her father, Arwen snuggled closer as he put his arm around her shoulders. "Ada? Will I have to go up there in the hollow ship that's full of holes?"
He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. "You won't have to go up there, Arwen."
"Good! Because I don't think I would like to have to worry about all the stars coming in through the holes. Even if it is hollow."
Closing his eyes, Elrond vowed to remember the conversation for all eternity. She wouldn't always be a tiny girl with big words she confused, but for now it was precious as mithril to him. "We'll stay here then, and just watch the stars."
Arwen nodded then sighed. "But I still need to know, Ada. Is he cold?"
Dedicated to my niece, who also confused words and had us crying in laughter many a night. Love you, kiddo!
