Disclaimer: I do not own Middle-Earth, any of Tolkien's characters, or an original recording of Galadriel's lament
Author's note:
With time and luck, I will cover Galadriel's life through her return to the Undying Lands. This is a fairly serious fic; just lighthearted in parts.
After the story, I have provided a name/gloss reference list, a Silmarillion summary for those unfamiliar with the events referenced, and author's notes.
This story is part of my main timeline, including Silm/Hobbit/LotR, selected HoME material, and any of my other Tolkien stories marked as main timeline.
Reviews always welcome, flames will be disposed of in Mt. Doom.
Sorry for lack of new chapters; I work at a Tolkienesque pace. 8-D
"Cookie now?" young Galadriel asked her mother for what seemed like the thousandth time.
"Soon, Artanis" Eärwen replied, and then turned to Nerdanel. "Sorry about that. You were telling us about your trip?"
"Yes. Well, Fëanáro was visiting my father too, and he was in a fouler mood than usual. Guess what he asked me!"
"Cookie now?"
When the laughter died down, Nerdanel continued. "He wanted to know why I wasn't at home."
"Since when", asked Indis, "has your husband shown the least concern for your whereabouts?"
"Since he heard about little Artanis. It seems that if Arafinwë has fathered five children, then Curufinwë must father at least six. Talk about competitive."
"More like obsessed." Anairë said. "My Nolofinwë is competitive, but he's content with our three. As if children were nothing more than trophies to collect! It's been so long since your last one. Would you even have the energy?"
"I could bear one or two more, I think, but not yet and not because Fëanáro says so. You have Irissë and now Eärwen has Artanis, yet I have five sons who spend most of their time out wherever with their father. I wish I had a daughter."
As Eärwen took the next tray of cookies from the oven, she felt a familiar tug on her skirt. "Cookie now?"
"Here. Let me make some room for those." Nerdanel said, moving two loaves of bread out of the way. "Who baked these, Eärwen? Didn't they rise properly? They're heavy."
"Irissë. That's how she bakes them."
"I didn't know she could bake."
"My Irissë baked today?" asked Anairë. "That means..."
Just then, Aredhel exited the storeroom, carrying some dried meat. "Anyone going to use this?" she asked. When no one answered, she scooped up one of the loaves of bread, and some of the cookies. "Chocolate cookies! Thanks, Aunt Eärwen! Bye, Mother!" With that she was off.
"I wonder how long she'll be gone this time."
"Okay, Artanis. Cookie now." Eärwen said. "Artanis?" she looked around the kitchen; Galadriel was nowhere to be seen. "If you'll excuse me..."
After Eärwen left the kitchen, Anairë said to Nerdanel "What was that you were saying about daughters?"
When Eärwen entered the hallway, there was no sign of Galadriel. She did see Finarfin coming down the hall. "Arafinwë! Did Artanis just run past?"
"I haven't seen her. She must have gone this way."
Eärwen looked at the windows they passed; she didn't think they were low enough for Galadriel to climb out of, but wasn't sure. Fortunately, they were all shut except for the one Orodreth was perched in. Intent on his book, he didn't notice his parents. "Have you seen Artanis?"
"Yes. She just ran through here."
"Why didn't you stop her?"
"Ingoldo was with her. I suppose he could have been trying to catch her. Anyway, they went that way."
From the direction he indicated came a noise, like the sound of something, or someone, falling. Eärwen and Finarfin looked at each other and took off running. Orodreth went back to his book.
Galadriel was about halfway up a bookshelf-type display case filled with statuettes and figurines when Finarfin grabbed her. She wiggled and squirmed in his arms, but kept her eye on one particular figurine; a spirited white mare that Nerdanel had carved. "You want that?"
"Artanis want down!"
He placed her on the floor and she began to climb the shelves again. Each time he grabbed her, she would wiggle until he had to put her down, and then resume her climb. Patient as he was, Finarfin soon began to consider dragging her back to her room, knowing that she would fuss and pout for hours, if not days, or just letting her climb and hoping for the best. The latter idea was soon put to rest when she slipped and fell. "May I handle this?" asked Finrod.
"You're welcome to try, Findaráto."
Finrod turned to his little sister. "The reason Father doesn't want you to climb is that he's afraid you might fall and get hurt."
"Artanis fall, no hurt"
"No, but next time you might. I'm not going to stop you from climbing, but I'm going to be ready to catch you in case you fall."
"Why? Artanis little?"
"Have you ever watched Aicanáro and Angaráto practice their tumbling? They help keep each other safe, and that's all I'll be doing. You'll be the one climbing. Try keeping closer to the shelves; you'll balance better."
Much to Finarfin's surprise, Galadriel did exactly as her brother suggested, safely retrieving the horse. "Why didn't she just ask for it?" he wondered aloud.
"Artanis climb get horse," the little girl said proudly.
Eärwen sighed. "To think I thought a daughter of mine would take after me. Having Artanis around is almost like having another son! What a little ner-wen she is!" she paused and watched Galadriel begin to play with the horse. "That shall be her mothername; Nerwendë."
Galadriel and Finrod walked down the hall. "Ingoldo. What mothername?" she asked.
"Everyone has two names. Your father names you when you're born, and your mother at some later point. That's why Mother and Father call me Findaráto; that's my fathername. Ingoldo is my mothername"
"Hello, Ingoldo. Hello, Artanis." Orodreth called from the window. "What was all that about?"
"Nerwendë!"
"Huh?"
"She got her mothername."
"Oh. Well, Nerwendë, what was all that about?"
"Nerwendë want horse, Nerwendë climb get horse."
"Nerwendë fall down too?" Orodreth said jokingly. Galadriel's reply was an icy stare.
"Yes, she fell down twice but she kept trying."
Back in her room, Finrod said "What now? Would you like me to read you a story?"
"Want make horse house." Galadriel began to arrange her blocks around the figurine.
"Good idea. We'll build her a stable."
They worked in silence for a while, then Galadriel asked "Why talk funny?"
"You mean why do you talk funny or why do people talk funny to you?" He paused, she looked at him and waited. "You mean both?"
"Yes. Both."
"You may not realize it, but every day you learn more words. Soon, not today or tomorrow but soon, you'll be able to speak just as well as anyone else. Growing up isn't easy. Sometimes you can't do as much as you'd like. Sometimes you can't do as much as you think you can. Sometimes you can do more than other people think you can. I wish I knew why. I expected Father at least to understand you. Do you follow?"
Galadriel thought for a minute. "A little. Seem long."
"Only while you're young. Now I have a question for you."
"What?"
"Why did Mother name you Nerwendë when you get into more trouble than me or any of your other brothers ever did?"
Galadriel gave him a smug grin and went back to building.