A/N: NOOOO! *squeals* Kat don't fracture your other ankle!
Alrighty folks this chapter is super duper cute with ickle Celen. BIG THANKS TO EMMITHAR AND CARRIE coz they let me steal the idea from their fic.
Oh and thanks to Liv Tyler for getting married in the Caribbean! I mean I could AFFORD to get to Leeds! Now there's no chance of hanging outside annoying the guests…*sarcasm plastered all over her face overlaying OUTRAGED indignance*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A single leaf, in the golden colour of autumn drifted gently down from the tree that had held it throughout the long summer. It landed neatly on a pile of other fallen leaves in hues of fiery red and burnt oranges. The lush green of the forest in summer had faded over the months carrying away with it the heat and intensity of the season. Now the only reminders of the lazy summer days were the few leaves that still hung on the trees and the memories locked away. But the passing of the summer was not to be mourned because all knew that it would return with the passing year and there was a new season and new challenges to be embraced.
The forest floor was a sea of colour and the huge expanse looked like an intricately woven rug. Leaves were sent skittering away under the paws of Arwen as she ran through them. She gave a little bark as one leaf drifted past her nose and she extended a silvery grey paw to swat it. After all the leaves had been suitably pawed she looked around wondering what to do next. Cocking her head to one side and flopping down one ear in the most endearing way she could she fixed her little master with a pleading gaze.
"No, I don't want to play." He whimpered. Arwen gave an annoyed bark and ran to the tree that held her master above her head. She reached up as far as she could, standing on her hind legs and scratching at the trunk.
"No! Go away Arwen! I don't want to play!"
With a disgruntled look the puppy lay at the base of the tree and practised being a guard dog with her ears pricked.
Above the recumbent dog Celen sat in the lowest bough of the tree. He brought his knees up and tucked them under his chin, wrapping his arms around them. His delicate features were brought down in a frown of sadness and his bright blue eyes glistened with suppressed tears. Clutched in his hand was a piece of yellowy parchment, the edge was crumpled where he was gripping it tightly. In ruddy ink it read:
Celen Greenleaf – Studies ReportWhat followed was a glowing report from Celen's tutor Isidith. She mentioned that he was an exceptionally bright and able pupil who loved what he did and pushed himself to see what he could do. There was nothing more that any parent or student could want, Isidith described a perfect pupil.
But the whiteness of Celen's knuckles as he grasped the paper did not give the impression of a happy child. He rocked back and forth and the tears that had been threatening to overspill trickled out of his eyes and ran down his cheeks in salty rivulets. With a saddening cry he dashed them from his face with the back of his hand and threw the paper from him in frustration.
Arwen gave a little yelp as the paper fluttered past her and she caught it deftly in her mouth. She sprang to her feet to return it to her master but as she turned around a small figure landed on the ground next to her. She stumbled back in shock dropping the report and faltered while she regained her feet. Before she could snatch at the paper it was whipped from under her and Celen was running as fast as he could. With a joyous leap she gave chase, not knowing that tears spilled down her master's face and his eyes stung as the wind dried them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Isidith placed her cup back down on what she thought was the table. A dark red stain began to form on the piece of paper she was reading and she tutted irritably moving the cup. It had been a long day and she had just had the arduous task of teaching Fiarén and the rest of his friends. It wasn't that they didn't want to learn it's just she couldn't tear the boy's minds away from weapons and the girl's from gossiping. Pushing the last couple of hours out of her mind Isidith picked up her quill and wrote her comment on the bottom of an essay in Quenya. The tick she was about to place on it was stopped as the door crashed open. She whirled around to see a distraught Celen. Before she could speak he ran forward and tugged fretfully at her sleeve.
"Isidith you've got to change it! You've just got to! I can't stand it if you don't!"
"Shhh. Celen, slow down." Tenderly she pushed stray blonde hairs back from his flushed face. She could see that he had been crying and his sapphire eyes still sparkled. Her face became concerned, it was rare to see Celen in such a state he was always calm and quite shy. Leaving her half marked work she got up from her chair and knelt in front of the young prince. Taking his tiny hands in hers she spoke
"What's the matter Celen? Tell me slowly and clearly."
"You have to change my report!"
"Why? It's an outstanding report, your parents will be proud."
"I don't care about them! I don't want them to be proud, I want…" He trailed off into sniffles.
"Why not Celen? What's brought this on?"
The elfling's lip began to tremble and Isidith put her arm around him drawing him to her. The prince's words started out trembling but his voice gained stature as he told his teacher everything.
"B-b-because if I had a bad r-r-report then I could be more like th-th-them. They have lots of f-f-friends and they don't get good marks. And they have bows! I can't play with them because I don't have a bow. And they laugh at me because I get good reports and the gold leaves. So if I didn't have a good report and I threw all my gold leaves away and I had a bow then I'd have more friend's than just you and Arwen."
"Who are they Celen?"
"The other children."
Isidith sighed and hugged the little prince. She knew that he didn't have any friend's in his class but she hadn't known how much it affected him. He always seemed so happy. His favourite place was sat in the secluded window seat, his back against the cushions, a book balanced on his knees and Arwen at his feet. When he was sat like that and the light illuminated his golden blonde hair Isidith had been moved. He was like a child to her because he spent most of his day in her classroom reading or writing even when it wasn't his lessons. This news troubled her.
"Celen you mustn't listen to them, and definitely don't throw away your gold leaves. Now where is this report of yours?" Celen handed over the mauled piece of parchment. Isidith eyed the crumpled paper with its teeth marks and smudged writing.
"Please Isidith, please change it. I want a friend, just one will do. A friend that can talk and isn't busy like you and mummy and daddy." His little eyes pleaded with her, round and blue like saucers. She hesitated, she desperately wanted to make that little face smile but it would be wrong to let him give in to peer pressure.
"Alright, I'll think about it." She said taking the report. His smile was so wide and honest that it brought tears to her eyes. He flung his arms around her neck and hugged her tight before running off.
"Thank you!" He called back as he scampered out with his puppy.
Isidith shook her head as she was left there knelt on the floor of her classroom. She had a feeling that that smile and those endearing eyes, the sweet ignorant innocence that made you want to protect him would break a lot of hearts in future years. It also made her realise why Kĩyara was so drawn to her husband because the little prince was his spitting image. But what to now she had told him she'd think about it?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Isidith knocked on the door in front of her. She twisted a strand of her light brown hair around her finger as she always did when she had something on her mind. In her other hand was clutched Celen's report.
"Come in." Came the voice from the other side of the door. Carefully Isidith pushed open the door and entered the room. It was medium sized but light and airy. In the fading evening light it was lit gold in places and in deep shadow in others. Sat at a large desk facing the wide open doors to the balcony was Legolas. He had a pen in his hand and looked up from what he was writing as she walked in with an open and welcoming look. However in contrast Kĩyara was lying upside down on the sofa that occupied one wall of the study. She had her trousered legs up against the wall and her head was hanging off the edge of the couch, her hair falling to the floor.
"Erm, my lord? What is Lady Kĩyara doing?"
"What? Oh don't ask." He said giving his wife a sidelong look.
"I'm bored! He's working and I have nothing to do so I came to annoy him." Said Kĩyara mischievously.
Isidith raised her eyebrows.
"I know, you won't guess she was an Elder would you?"
Isidith smiled politely but didn't answer the question, thinking it prudent not to start an argument between the two.
"So what did you want?"
"My Lord it's your son Celen. He was very upset today about something some of the other boys in his class have been saying. He-"
Isidith was cut off by a loud thump as Kĩyara toppled off the sofa.
"OW! What! What's happened to my baby?" Her green eyes were wide as she scrambled to get on her feet.
"Kĩyara get off the floor please, Isidith was telling us. What did happen Isidith? Is he alright?"
Isidith looked at the two concerned faces in front of her, the faces that would do anything for their child, the two who loved him more than she could imagine. It was hard to tell them exactly what he had said but she did and when she had finished she felt better.
"Thank you Isidith. You'll let us know if anything else happens won't you?"
"Of course. He's such a affectionate child, it's hard to see him upset like this."
Legolas nodded his agreement. Isidith inclined her head in acknowledgement and left the room.
Legolas sighed and pulled Kĩyara to sit on his lap. She kissed his cheek and nestled her head on his shoulder welcoming his arms around her.
"What are we going to do? I feel awful, how can we not have seen how unhappy our baby is?" Kĩyara whispered.
"I don't know, maybe we don't spend enough time with him. Maybe…"
Legolas trailed off, he didn't know anymore than Kĩyara did. All he could do was give his wife a comforting kiss.
"I'll think of something, don't worry." He said softly.
"I try not to, but he's so small Legolas. Thank you."
"For what?"
"For wanting me not to worry, it didn't think I'd ever want someone to protect me, but I do."
Legolas smiled his answer and stroked her hair, thinking of how much she had changed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Night had fallen earlier with the autumn months and only candles and the bright moon lighted the palace. It was long since the inhabitants of the Court had retired to bed, and the only sound was the whispering of the wind against shutters, closed to bar its cool chill from entering the snug rooms. In the royal chamber all was not calm though.
"Kĩyara if you don't stop it you'll be sleeping on the floor."
The few candles left burning in the outstretched hands of the effigy of Tuiena at the head of the bed cast a flickering light over the two.
"I can't help it!" Said Kĩyara irritably, turning over for the umpteenth time.
Legolas rolled his eyes and grimaced.
"Please, for my sanity, stop wriggling. I want some quilt too." He yanked at the pale cream quilt regaining his fair share.
"I can't sleep Legolas! All I can think about is our little boy."
The blonde elf let out a heart felt sigh and turned over to look into his wife's bright green eyes. He put his arms around her pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.
"Now sleep, otherwise I will make you sleep on the floor."
Kĩyara smiled, he had made her before but she couldn't help being so fidgety.
Just as Legolas thought she had finally dropped off to sleep her eyes snapped open again. He gave her a deeply frustrated look.
"Don't look at me like that, I thought I heard something."
"You were never asleep were you?" Kĩyara grinned in reply but shushed him.
"No seriously I can hear fe-"
The door to their chamber opened slowly and a shaft of bright moonlight fell on the floor, they tiny figures of a boy and dog were outlined in its sylvan rays. Quickly Celen closed the door giving the darkness in the hall a fearful look before running over to his parents. He stood nervously at the edge of the bed, peering at his parents cosy under the blanket.
"Did you have a bad dream little one?"
He shook his head vigorously.
"What is it then?"
"Can I get in?" He replied in a diminutive voice.
Legolas nodded smiling. Celen clambered up and burrowed under the covers, popping up between his parents, a little grin playing about his mouth. However it soon faded. Tenderly Kĩyara stroked his hair, soothing his agitated expression. When Celen had settled in and claimed his section of quilt it became apparent that he was very much awake and he babbled on inconsequentially for a while. When he eventually fell silent, the clouded face of disquiet resumed his features. He looked very thoughtful and in due course he asked the question he had been considering.
"Ate're?"
"Yes Celen?" Legolas replied.
"Do you think you could make me a bow? A proper one?"
"I think that would be very possible yes."
"When?"
"In a few weeks when I've got all my work done."
"Alright."
Kĩyara shook her head disbelievingly at Legolas. His few words to his son had in seconds changed the forlorn look to one of contentment. She smiled lovingly at the two blonde haired, blue-eyed elves she loved so much. One cradled in her arms, the other with his arms around her.
A/N: Thank you I'll be here all week! Keep the reviews coming! Any mistakes or drop in writing standard towards the end is because I have been at the stables from 7am to 6pm and I'm knackered. But I had to finish and post because heidi and kat say so.
