Characters: Nerdanel, Fëanor, all of their children

Some keywords for the whole fic: family, kid fic, fluff, angst, elf culture & customs

Chapter word count: ~1,000 words

A/N: This is a 6-part series of ficlets about Nerdanel giving mother-names to her sons: short, somewhat fluffy, occasionally angsty family scenes. I wrote this in 2017 and somehow forgot to post it here on ffnet.

I tried to explain the names within the text well enough that you should be able to enjoy this even if you are not very familiar with them.

Rating was chosen for the last chapter. All other chapters are K+ at most.

Amilessë=mother-name.

Chapter I: Maitimo

Holding her first child is a marvel, an awe-inspiring thing. The boy is a beautiful child and sweet-natured too, always calming down as soon as he is held by her or Fëanáro. And as Nelyafinwë grows Nerdanel can see that their child has all the best of both her and her husband: his fire and her steadiness, her reddish hair and his fine features. Nelyo has something all of his own too, an ability to inspire love and loyalty in the people around him by showing those himself, and it makes him all the more beautiful to his mother.

Though it pains her to show so little care, she gives him his mother-name in his early childhood without waiting for any particular insight or vision. She does it after realising just how much his father-name hurts Fëanáro's family.

For she has noticed that her husband's older half-brother winces a little every time he speaks the name Nelyafinwë, third Finwë, a name that makes it sound like Nolofinwë and his younger brother don't even exist. Nolofinwë does not seem to fault the child for a name, thankfully, but he clearly thinks Fëanáro's choice of name for his firstborn shows his every flaw. Arafinwë, as usual, says nothing, shows no consternation and makes Nelyafinwë laugh by gently tickling his belly whenever he sees him.

And while Finwë never reproves his eldest and dearest son for the impolite, incendiary name he gave his first son, Nerdanel sees also a very, very faint look of grief – of lost hope that things could be otherwise – when the king addresses his grandson by that name.

Once Nerdanel decides that she cannot wait any longer to give Nelyafinwë another name, her first, instinctual thought is that she should name him for his looks.

For it is not just his doting parents who think that little Nelyo is a remarkably pretty child. His wavy red hair is admired by all, and his clear grey eyes fringed by thick, dark lashes are said to show unusual wisdom for a child so young. He is well-proportioned and graceful, swift-footed and in possession of a sweet, shy smile whose appearance is often a delightful surprise.

Ever since he is a babe sleeping in his cradle he is Nerdanel's favourite subject to sculpt, and when a little older he makes valiant efforts to pose for her, sitting still when all he wants to do is run around catching dust motes in the air in his mother's large, light-filled studio. When Nerdanel notices him fidgeting and tells him that it is all right to take a break, he always stays a moment longer before allowing himself the freedom.

(That is another thing that is all his, Nerdanel reflects, his tendency to always push himself a little bit further than anyone expects him to, even though he is so young he should know nothing yet of self-discipline. She hopes it isn't anything she has taught him without noticing, and fears that Fëanáro might have.)

One day she is again trying to capture her son's beautiful form and spirit and failing once again, grieving the fact she cannot capture in sculpture the lovely curve of his lashes when he gazes up at her fondly, and a name arrives. A simple name, a simple compliment, but she rather thinks that an overly poetic name would not do her firstborn. For though little Nelyo appreciates beauty and art as much as any child of the Noldor, he does not seem to chase the creation of it as his parents do.

'Take a break now, my Maitimo', she tells him to see how he reacts to being called 'well-shaped'.

He gazes at her, bright-eyed and thoughtful. 'Is that your new name for me?' he asks softly.

'It could be', she replies. 'If you will have it.' She finds that she is pleased by the thought of her child choosing to take as his own the name she has chosen: a wanted gift, she hopes, rather than an edict issued to him.

'Everyone says I am beautiful', Nelyafinwë says after a moment. 'Am I, mama?'

He makes it sound like everyone calling him beautiful makes it less likely to be true; how odd, Nerdanel thinks, a little disturbed. 'Yes, sweetheart, you are very beautiful', she tells him. 'But that is not the most important thing nor the best thing about you. The best thing is your sweet heart.'

Nelyo smiles at the simple word-play. 'I will be Maitimo if you think it suits me.'

Nerdanel says that she does think so, admiring her son's little dimples whose appearance always delights her. After one more thoughtful yet smiling moment Maitimo allows himself the break his mother told him to take and goes around the studio curiously inspecting everything that has changed even a little since he last was in this room.

Nerdanel takes a break herself, keeping an eye on her son and wondering what her next child will look like, the one who is still a precious secret only she and Fëanáro know. She is certain that Maitimo will be an excellent big brother.

When Nerdanel shares the name she chose with others, all in the family are relieved to have another name to call Nelyo. And while he, a child whose modesty confounds his father, sometimes suffers embarrassment and teasing about his amilessë, he later chooses it to be his preferred name.

His mother asks him why he made the choice, and Maitimo tells his her that he didn't choose it simply to be diplomatic, but also because he likes his mother-name. 'I don't care so much about the opinions of others', he says with the confidence of a young man who has been called attractive all his life, 'but I am glad to be beautiful to you, mother.'

Nerdanel is both pleased and confused. How could Maitimo, her beloved firstborn, think he could ever be anything else to her? But she doesn't voice her confusion, only smiles at him. He smiles back, and Nerdanel cannot help wondering how many hearts those perfect dimples have already broken.

A/N: Tolkien's description that Nerdanel desired 'to understand minds rather than to master them' inspired me to envision these scenes of her giving names to her sons as negotiations rather than declarations.

I will try to post two chapters a week.