Racell and Dinna enjoyed their lessons. They both liked learning things and practicing their letters.
But their tutor Manarenil proved moody. One day sunny and cheerful the next day morose and distant.
One morning it all came to a head. Dinna had decided to bring Manarenil some flowers and Racell had brought him some fruit, for he frequently missed the mid day meal because he would retreat to his room to read.
Dinna placed her floral offering on the seat of the chair, giggling as Racell set the cut up peaches nearby. The two girls then sat at the end of the table and began their writing.
Racell frowned at the sunlight's movement across the floor. Manarenil was quite a bit late today. Dinna, all unaware, continued concentrating on her letters.
Shrugging, Racell went back to her work.
Finally they heard the door open as Manarenil, his arms full of books and papers said hurriedly. "Sorry to be late ladies, but I was with Lord Elrond in the library going over books for you to start reading." Without a thought Manarenil sat down on Dinna's flowers completely unaware. He was still talking about their books when he set his pile on the plate of fruit Racell had brought him.
Unbalanced, the books and the dish went to the floor with a crash.
Dinna, her eyes bright, joined a subdued Racell to help the elf. But he wanted none of it. "Go sit down girls. I shall take care of this mess! And which one of you left your breakfast here?"
"I brought that for you Manarenil sir. You don't eat very much."
Dinna upset, as the elf mindlessly swept flowers to the floor, watched her sister's face go still and sad. With a sob, Dinna ran out of the room and in moments, Racell followed.
"Girls, I am sorry! As soon as I clean up this mess..." But they paid him no mind and ran out of the House.
Swiftly going through the gardens, they made their way to the river and then ran along its banks to the quiet niche the twins had found.
They had to wade around a large boulder but once on the other side, there was a lovely little embayment surrounded by aspens shading a bit of grass and sand.
Both girls flung themselves on the grass.
Dinna's muffled voice finally broke the silence. "He didn't have to be so mean."
"No, he didn't." agreed Racell.
She put her head on her knees, trying to think through the elf's actions. Perhaps he did not want to teach them at all. Maybe he did not like non-elvish children. Racell shivered. No other humans lived in Rivendell.
Dinna crawled into her lap, her thumb in her mouth. She twirled an end of Racell's sandy blonde hair around her fingers.
Racell put her head on her sister's. She hadn't felt this lonely since they had gotten here.
A few minutes silence and then Dinna said tiredly, "We are not lost so Ada Elrond will not be mad too."
"No, you are right. And we have all day before us. Why don't we hunt polliwogs?"
"We have no buckets."
"We can make a little pool for them from rocks and then we can come back later with buckets. The twins will like them."
"Maybe," Dinna looked at her sister hopefully, "Manarenil would like some? They are so cute. Maybe he needs a pet."
"Good idea Dinna."
The girls worked together to build a pool to hold polliwogs.
Faintly as they hunted the amphibians, they heard the mid day bell ring. Making sure their captives were secure in their pool, the girls scrambled through the rocks and water and ran down the path to the main House.
They joined the elves in the main dining hall and saw that Elrond and his family were not seated at the high table.
Both girls took their bowls of soup and sat at the end of a near empty table feeling a bit lost.
"Maybe they don't like us anymore?"
"Maybe they really were angry about us getting lost."
"Maybe they really will send us home."
Both girls went still at that. Because they were hungry, they ate. But tears dripped into their soup bowls.
Racell gathered their dishes and slowly walked to the baskets where they were collected for washing.
As they waited for a clear approach to the baskets, Manarenil came and joined them. Without a word, Racell took his dishes and added them to theirs, putting them all in the closest basket.
About to turn away, Manarenil put a hand on her shoulder.
"Stay Racell. I-I am sorry..."
She looked up at him, her eyes still shining with tears. Wordlessly he guided her out of the press of elves and said quietly, "I did not mean to hurt your feelings. Do not cry."
"It's not just you Manarenil sir. We do not know where Ada Elrond is. We are afraid we have been bad and he does not wish to see us. Everyone is mad at us today."
"The twins are gone too," Dinna said, burying her face in her sister's gown.
Manarenil smiled at the girls. "Lord Elrond had some border business to attend to and Lady Celebrian and the twins are just up at the archery
fields."
"Oh." Racell bit her lip and dropped her eyes to the floor. Dinna looked up at Manarenil, eyes sparkling. "Can you come and see the polliwogs we caught for you? They are out on the river in their own little pool."
"Which we made ourselves."
Manarenil, about to go to his private study, nodded slowly. "All right and I can teach you the names of things you find by the river."
Both girls grinned at him and Dinna, about to run off, grabbed the tall elf by the hand and hurried him along.
Once outside, they slowed some as Manarenil drilled them in the names of plants and trees, the sky, the wind.
As they went along the River Bruinen, the girls learned new words for river and rocks, boulders, swallows and minnows.
Racell went out in the water and beckoned the elf. "I shall help you. It is just around this boulder."
"All right." Manarenil leaned on Racell and she helped support him while Dinna rushed ahead.
"See, isn't this a nice spot?" Dinna twirled around. "The twins found it."
"It is lovely," Manarenil said as he slowly and carefully maneuvered his way out of the rocks.
Dinna pulled him over slowly to their polliwog pond, but there were none there to see.
Racell and Dinna frowned at the empty pool.
"But we put a dozen in there Manarenil." Racell said confused. "I do not know how they got out."
"Perhaps there is a little hole in between the rocks where they wriggled free."
Both girls then bent down to inspect their pond carefully, and while Manarenil sat in the shade, they got to work making sure there were no escape routes.
Satisfied, they then enjoyed themselves catching more. Both got soaked and a bit sandy as they happily floundered around laughing as they chased the amphibians.
Manarenil, relaxed, watched them in amusement.
Finally the girls decided they had enough polliwogs and so they watched them for awhile in their new home.
"They cannot get out now!" crowed Dinna happily and her sister nodded.
The two then turned to the damp sand beneath their feet and started shaping it into buildings and towers.
But soon the warmth and soft winds tired them out and they curled up on the grass next to the elder elf and fell asleep.
Manarenil surprised at their cuddling close to him without question, rested against a nearby boulder and slowly, unsure of himself, he pulled the youngest to him, laying her head in his lap. Racell automatically followed her small form and snuggled against Dinna. Manarenil tentatively touched Dinna's hair, his smile softened with unexpected affection.
An hour or so later, Racell felt a soft touch on her shoulder. "Shh, quiet Racell. I have found out how the polliwogs are escaping."
The older girl opened her eyes slowly and looked where Manarenil pointed. There above their polliwog pool was a pair of blackbirds perched on nearby rocks. They took turns dipping into the water and snatching polliwogs, winging their way to their hungry nestlings sequestered in a nearby bed of reeds.
"The blackbirds are grateful for what they see as an easy meal for the young ones Racell. That is how they got out."
Racell stifled a giggle. "They got out as lunch!"
Soon Dinna woke and her attention was directed to the busy birds. She finally got up laughing and shooed them away. "You have had enough polliwogs!" She carefully broke down the walls and slapped the water to send the few polliwogs on their way.
Soon the pool was empty and the girls, still a bit damp and sandy, their hair all awry helped Manarenil as they went back to the House.
They discussed bringing buckets next time and were just about to wash their faces in the fountain near the steps, when a large contingent of elves clattered into the courtyard, a grim faced Elrond at their head.
Manarenil, assessing the situation quickly said, "Go on girls, go clean up. I will meet you in the study."
Nodding, Racell and Dinna went slowly into the House with many backward looks at the elves assembled.
Something was not right, but Racell knew now was not the time to ask questions.