A/N: Sorry this took forever. Vacation and shopping got to me. Anyway, you
all know what I own, so let's get on with it. Please review.
The First Time
October that year was rather eventful for all of us on both sides of the Anduin. Prince Eldarion of Gondor had just celebrated his first birthday, and was starting to speak and walk. And in August, King Éomer and Queen Lothíriel of Rohan were blessed with a son named Elfwine. The young prince, who had been born around a month earlier than expected, was a spitting image of his father. Despite his small size and his parents' initial worry, he was growing as fine as could be, and as time wore on, there was less worry over him.
As for Elboron and Eäriel, they were now very lively and active, and they were quite a force to be reckoned with at their tender age. As for Bergil, Tonigil, Elaniwel, and I, we were doing fine, though we couldn't always act immature anymore.
This new lesson came into play one noontime in Emyn Arnen when Éowyn was feeding the children. While Eäriel fussed more at night, Elboron was proving to be a stubborn and picky eater.
Éowyn had turned her back a while to find something to clean up Elboron's mess, leaving me, Elboron, and a bowl of mashed vegetables and a spoon. Eäriel was napping on a sofa nearby, having finished eating quickly.
I looked intently at the bowl of food and decided to try something. I picked up the spoon, loaded it with vegetables and held it up in front of Elboron.
"Come on, why don't you be a good boy, and please eat your food" I cooed as I tried to make him eat. He instead closed his mouth tighter and made a face.
Then inspiration struck me. "Bron! Look up!" I said excitedly. Elboron looked up, and his mouth dropped open. I quickly put the spoon in, and Elboron looked at me in shock. He quickly spit his food out at me, and it got everywhere.
"Elboron!" I exclaimed in surprise when I felt the food splatter on my clothes. Just then, Éowyn came in with a knowing look on her face.
"And you said it was easy to try to make kids eat" she said nonchalantly as she wiped up her son. "Well, it looks like we're going to have to try something else to make him even try the vegetables" she continued wearily.
I could tell that she was slightly frustrated. Her mother was no longer around to give her advice on such matters. And though Faramir was always very loving and supportive towards Éowyn, he wasn't always home to help, since his duty as Steward often kept him away from home for long hours.
"Do you need some help?" I asked. Éowyn nodded. I quickly got a rag and began to clean up some of the mess on the floor. A while later, I heard some knocks on the door.
"Niliwen!" Bergil chirped from outside. I looked up and bit my lip. I'd promised Bergil that I'd take him to the City for a while.
"If you're going to go out, don't be out too long," Éowyn told me.
"Is it me or is Faramir's gift of perceiving minds rubbing off on you? Anyway, I won't get into accidents, I swear!" I joked. Éowyn laughed and so did Elboron.
"Just be back in about a couple of hours" she said to me. As I walked out towards the door, I tripped on the doormat. I looked back and saw Éowyn wince. So much for no accidents.
"You're giving Faramir and Éowyn a head start at taking care of teenagers" Elaniwel said to me some time later that afternoon. The two of us, along with Bergil, were sitting on a few rocks at the fork of two paths in the hills. One path led down to the City, the other led to the Steward's house.
"Am not! Besides, I'm not a child anymore," I said in protest. Just then, we saw Tonigil walking up the path, with a pad of paper.
"Mister Tonigil! What are you writing?" Bergil asked.
"Probably medical prescriptions," I sniggered underneath my breath.
"You look so adorable when you snigger, Niliwen" Tonigil said to me. I had to slap myself at what he said. Did he just pay me a compliment?!!
"Can I see what you're writing?" I asked.
"No" Tonigil replied.
"Please!" I begged.
"Wow, I can't believe you're groveling at his feet. Reminds me a bit of the way Eldarion asks to be carried," Bergil said.
"Oh, I have to get going back to the house. Éowyn is really going to let me have it if I'm not back!" I said as I remembered my orders.
"Mind if we come?" Bergil asked.
"No, as long as you all clear out before Ioreth and Beregond arrange a manhunt for the three of you," I replied.
"Oh, she'll never suspect me. I'll just say I was out picking herbs," Elaniwel said confidently. Recently, she'd been made the student of the Warden of the Houses of Healing, since she among all the young workers was most gifted with the gift of healing.
When we arrived back at the house, we found Éowyn in the stables, looking like she'd just come from a ride.
"Caught you there, my lady" I said as I stepped in.
"I was just out for a very short ride. It's been sometime since I've ridden a horse," she admitted.
"Last week was sometime?" Bergil piped up.
"Anyway, your father volunteered to take charge for a while and watch the twins. Now if only Faramir were home, then perhaps---"Éowyn began.
"You'd go sparring with him?" I asked.
"Speaking about sparring, how is your archery coming along, Niliwen?" Éowyn asked.
"Not good enough to join the rangers of Ithilien, I'm afraid" I said somberly.
Suddenly, we heard a yell from upstairs. We all rushed up, and we found Beregond, holding his hand.
"Eäriel bit me. She bites awfully hard" Beregond said through clenched teeth when we approached him.
"She bit you?" Éowyn asked in surprise as she rushed into her room. She emerged a while later carrying both her children.
"Eäriel is cutting a tooth! I can't believe it!" Éowyn said excitedly.
"So is Elboron-OUCH!" I said, just before my fingers found their way into Elboron's mouth.
"He's definitely cutting teeth. And they twins are going to be a bit fussy" Elaniwel said as I rubbed my fingers.
After Elaniwel gave Éowyn some advice on how to deal with the minor problems that teething brought about, we found ourselves having tea outdoors.
"I don't know which of us the biggest worrywart is: Arwen, Lothíriel or myself" Éowyn said lightly as she smoothed down Eäriel's unruly hair.
"Well, your sister-in-law can't help worrying about her child" Beregond said.
"I talked to the King and Queen, and they weren't so worried about Eldarion. It seems as if the young prince has taken a liking to the stars as of late," I said.
"Ah yes. Arwen told me about that. And Eldarion's ears have that elven-shape to them, and everyday, he looks more and more like his father," Éowyn said.
"Well, Elboron has your hair, but he's got his father's expression," Elaniwel noted.
"And Eäriel has dark hair, but Faramir swears that her eyes are more like mine," Éowyn said.
"I can't tell" Tonigil said as he watched me trying to make Eäriel laugh by making faces. Suddenly, Eäriel cried at one of my facial expressions.
"I think you overdid it," Beregond laughed.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make her cry" I said apologetically as I tried to calm down the little girl.
"It happens. Besides, I think it's a bit of gas" Éowyn said as I handed Eäriel to her.
"Niliwen, perhaps you're better off as a counselor than as a healer or babysitter," Tonigil advised. I shrugged at this. I liked writing and languages, but I also liked children, and they also liked me, if I wasn't accidentally making them cry.
Later that evening, while Éowyn and I were passing time in the living room, we heard the door open. To our surprise, it was Faramir. These days, we saw very little of him.
"Good evening, my lord" I said rather formally when I met him at the door.
"Please don't be so formal, Niliwen. Is Éowyn still awake?" he said to me.
"Most certainly. I missed you, Faramir," Éowyn said as she went up to him.
"I was gone but a day, my love. But even then, it was too long," Faramir said as he embraced Éowyn affectionately. I knew that under these circumstances, he wanted nothing more than to stay at home and be with his family, most especially his wife.
"Do you want to see our children?" Éowyn asked him, and I could sense the pride in her voice when she said "our children".
I withdrew from the room and went to my own chamber. As I readied myself to go to sleep, I found a piece of folded paper on the nightstand. It read:
"To hear your laugh again, and see your smile underneath your brown hair, is a joy to me. Till tomorrow, my dear Niliwen"
I gasped at this. It couldn't be----Tonigil?! This was his handwriting, I knew. And he's the only person who complimented me on my smile!
I tumbled onto my bed and tried to block off the possibilities. Morning would bring clearer answers, I hoped. Me and Tonigil...sounded pretty absurd at the moment. The thought of it made me shudder with fear, and perhaps delight.
A/N: Yay! I got it up before Christmas! I'm going on a one-week sabbatical, and I'll be back in January. Send a review! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The First Time
October that year was rather eventful for all of us on both sides of the Anduin. Prince Eldarion of Gondor had just celebrated his first birthday, and was starting to speak and walk. And in August, King Éomer and Queen Lothíriel of Rohan were blessed with a son named Elfwine. The young prince, who had been born around a month earlier than expected, was a spitting image of his father. Despite his small size and his parents' initial worry, he was growing as fine as could be, and as time wore on, there was less worry over him.
As for Elboron and Eäriel, they were now very lively and active, and they were quite a force to be reckoned with at their tender age. As for Bergil, Tonigil, Elaniwel, and I, we were doing fine, though we couldn't always act immature anymore.
This new lesson came into play one noontime in Emyn Arnen when Éowyn was feeding the children. While Eäriel fussed more at night, Elboron was proving to be a stubborn and picky eater.
Éowyn had turned her back a while to find something to clean up Elboron's mess, leaving me, Elboron, and a bowl of mashed vegetables and a spoon. Eäriel was napping on a sofa nearby, having finished eating quickly.
I looked intently at the bowl of food and decided to try something. I picked up the spoon, loaded it with vegetables and held it up in front of Elboron.
"Come on, why don't you be a good boy, and please eat your food" I cooed as I tried to make him eat. He instead closed his mouth tighter and made a face.
Then inspiration struck me. "Bron! Look up!" I said excitedly. Elboron looked up, and his mouth dropped open. I quickly put the spoon in, and Elboron looked at me in shock. He quickly spit his food out at me, and it got everywhere.
"Elboron!" I exclaimed in surprise when I felt the food splatter on my clothes. Just then, Éowyn came in with a knowing look on her face.
"And you said it was easy to try to make kids eat" she said nonchalantly as she wiped up her son. "Well, it looks like we're going to have to try something else to make him even try the vegetables" she continued wearily.
I could tell that she was slightly frustrated. Her mother was no longer around to give her advice on such matters. And though Faramir was always very loving and supportive towards Éowyn, he wasn't always home to help, since his duty as Steward often kept him away from home for long hours.
"Do you need some help?" I asked. Éowyn nodded. I quickly got a rag and began to clean up some of the mess on the floor. A while later, I heard some knocks on the door.
"Niliwen!" Bergil chirped from outside. I looked up and bit my lip. I'd promised Bergil that I'd take him to the City for a while.
"If you're going to go out, don't be out too long," Éowyn told me.
"Is it me or is Faramir's gift of perceiving minds rubbing off on you? Anyway, I won't get into accidents, I swear!" I joked. Éowyn laughed and so did Elboron.
"Just be back in about a couple of hours" she said to me. As I walked out towards the door, I tripped on the doormat. I looked back and saw Éowyn wince. So much for no accidents.
"You're giving Faramir and Éowyn a head start at taking care of teenagers" Elaniwel said to me some time later that afternoon. The two of us, along with Bergil, were sitting on a few rocks at the fork of two paths in the hills. One path led down to the City, the other led to the Steward's house.
"Am not! Besides, I'm not a child anymore," I said in protest. Just then, we saw Tonigil walking up the path, with a pad of paper.
"Mister Tonigil! What are you writing?" Bergil asked.
"Probably medical prescriptions," I sniggered underneath my breath.
"You look so adorable when you snigger, Niliwen" Tonigil said to me. I had to slap myself at what he said. Did he just pay me a compliment?!!
"Can I see what you're writing?" I asked.
"No" Tonigil replied.
"Please!" I begged.
"Wow, I can't believe you're groveling at his feet. Reminds me a bit of the way Eldarion asks to be carried," Bergil said.
"Oh, I have to get going back to the house. Éowyn is really going to let me have it if I'm not back!" I said as I remembered my orders.
"Mind if we come?" Bergil asked.
"No, as long as you all clear out before Ioreth and Beregond arrange a manhunt for the three of you," I replied.
"Oh, she'll never suspect me. I'll just say I was out picking herbs," Elaniwel said confidently. Recently, she'd been made the student of the Warden of the Houses of Healing, since she among all the young workers was most gifted with the gift of healing.
When we arrived back at the house, we found Éowyn in the stables, looking like she'd just come from a ride.
"Caught you there, my lady" I said as I stepped in.
"I was just out for a very short ride. It's been sometime since I've ridden a horse," she admitted.
"Last week was sometime?" Bergil piped up.
"Anyway, your father volunteered to take charge for a while and watch the twins. Now if only Faramir were home, then perhaps---"Éowyn began.
"You'd go sparring with him?" I asked.
"Speaking about sparring, how is your archery coming along, Niliwen?" Éowyn asked.
"Not good enough to join the rangers of Ithilien, I'm afraid" I said somberly.
Suddenly, we heard a yell from upstairs. We all rushed up, and we found Beregond, holding his hand.
"Eäriel bit me. She bites awfully hard" Beregond said through clenched teeth when we approached him.
"She bit you?" Éowyn asked in surprise as she rushed into her room. She emerged a while later carrying both her children.
"Eäriel is cutting a tooth! I can't believe it!" Éowyn said excitedly.
"So is Elboron-OUCH!" I said, just before my fingers found their way into Elboron's mouth.
"He's definitely cutting teeth. And they twins are going to be a bit fussy" Elaniwel said as I rubbed my fingers.
After Elaniwel gave Éowyn some advice on how to deal with the minor problems that teething brought about, we found ourselves having tea outdoors.
"I don't know which of us the biggest worrywart is: Arwen, Lothíriel or myself" Éowyn said lightly as she smoothed down Eäriel's unruly hair.
"Well, your sister-in-law can't help worrying about her child" Beregond said.
"I talked to the King and Queen, and they weren't so worried about Eldarion. It seems as if the young prince has taken a liking to the stars as of late," I said.
"Ah yes. Arwen told me about that. And Eldarion's ears have that elven-shape to them, and everyday, he looks more and more like his father," Éowyn said.
"Well, Elboron has your hair, but he's got his father's expression," Elaniwel noted.
"And Eäriel has dark hair, but Faramir swears that her eyes are more like mine," Éowyn said.
"I can't tell" Tonigil said as he watched me trying to make Eäriel laugh by making faces. Suddenly, Eäriel cried at one of my facial expressions.
"I think you overdid it," Beregond laughed.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make her cry" I said apologetically as I tried to calm down the little girl.
"It happens. Besides, I think it's a bit of gas" Éowyn said as I handed Eäriel to her.
"Niliwen, perhaps you're better off as a counselor than as a healer or babysitter," Tonigil advised. I shrugged at this. I liked writing and languages, but I also liked children, and they also liked me, if I wasn't accidentally making them cry.
Later that evening, while Éowyn and I were passing time in the living room, we heard the door open. To our surprise, it was Faramir. These days, we saw very little of him.
"Good evening, my lord" I said rather formally when I met him at the door.
"Please don't be so formal, Niliwen. Is Éowyn still awake?" he said to me.
"Most certainly. I missed you, Faramir," Éowyn said as she went up to him.
"I was gone but a day, my love. But even then, it was too long," Faramir said as he embraced Éowyn affectionately. I knew that under these circumstances, he wanted nothing more than to stay at home and be with his family, most especially his wife.
"Do you want to see our children?" Éowyn asked him, and I could sense the pride in her voice when she said "our children".
I withdrew from the room and went to my own chamber. As I readied myself to go to sleep, I found a piece of folded paper on the nightstand. It read:
"To hear your laugh again, and see your smile underneath your brown hair, is a joy to me. Till tomorrow, my dear Niliwen"
I gasped at this. It couldn't be----Tonigil?! This was his handwriting, I knew. And he's the only person who complimented me on my smile!
I tumbled onto my bed and tried to block off the possibilities. Morning would bring clearer answers, I hoped. Me and Tonigil...sounded pretty absurd at the moment. The thought of it made me shudder with fear, and perhaps delight.
A/N: Yay! I got it up before Christmas! I'm going on a one-week sabbatical, and I'll be back in January. Send a review! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!