Chapter 4: Momcani

Another crisp spring morning in Rivendell found four year old Estel playing in his room. He was working a puzzle with Elrohir. It had been a year since Estel and his mother had come to live with the Elves and everything was running smoothly. "Where does this one go Ro?"

The youngest of Elrond's twins answered, "Right here Estel."

The little boy tried to position the piece in place, but had it turned in the wrong direction. Elrohir helped his young companion turn the piece upside down and put it in place. "There, we're all done. I'll see you later Estel."

Estel leapt off the floor and latched onto Elrohir's cloak, "Where ya going Ro?"

Elrohir turned around and pulled the young human into a hug. "I'm going hunting with Dan."

Estel looked up at the elf with big grey eyes. "But, I wanna play some more."

Elrohir gave the small human a small smile, "I'll play with you tonight if there's time. Bye Estel."

The black haired human watched his elf companion run off. The little boy hobbled down the stairs to the first floor. He scampered up to the large overstuffed chair and pulled on his Mother's blue dress and asked, "Mom can I go hunting with Dan and Ro?"

Gilraen looked down in the direction of her son's voice. "No, Strider. You're too young to go hunting."

Strider was very disappointed. He had hoped his Mother would let him go. He asked, "Mom can I play in the garden?"

Gilraen turned her sightless green eyes back to her son. "Yes we can go in the garden. But you have to stay where I can hear you."

The little boy jumped up and down as he pulled his Mother up out of the chair. He then led Gilraen out into the front garden. Strider had gotten in big trouble the last time he tried to take his Mother somewhere else. His mom had known the minute they stepped out of the garden, he still couldn't figure out how his mother had known.

Gilraen sat down beneath a tree and listened to the birds singing, but she still kept an ear out for Strider. That little boy was so rambunctious, and would run off is she didn't keep her ears open. She could hear him laughing and playing on the stone path just to her right. The woman heard a familiar voice call, "Good morning Gilraen. Aren't the flowers nice?"

Gilraen smirked though the emotion did not reach her eyes. "Aye, they do indeed smell nice. But you know quite well Elrond that I cannot see them."

Elrond took a seat next to the woman and gave a small laugh. "Indeed I do know this. That is why I simply stated they were nice. That could refer to both sight and smell my friend. I see Estel is out playing."

The woman snorted good naturedly, "Of course he is. You know that child can't stand to stay indoors for too long a period of time."

Elrond nodded and watched his distant nephew pretending to fight imaginary enemies with a stick. "I know. It's been over four days since he's been outside! Four whole days!"

Gilraen laughed, "And to think he hasn't destroyed the house." Then the conversation turned to discussing Lord Glorfindel who at the moment was visiting Lothlorien.

Meanwhile, Estel looked up from his game. Was that what he thought it was growing near the front gate? It was! He scampered up to his mother pulling on her sleeve.

"Well my friend,." Gilraen turned her attention to her left side where her son was pulling on her dress, "Strider, I'm talking to Uncle Elrond. Wait your turn." Then the woman returned her attention to Elrond, "When did you say Glorfindel would be back?"

Elrond smiled, "He should be back in about a day or two. Not too much longer."

Gilraen now turned her attention to her child, "Now what is it that you wanted Strider?"

"Mom can I go over there and pick some flowers?"

"You may as long as Elrond watches you."

Elrond nodded and watched the boy scamper up to the gate and pick some of the purple flowers. He then ran back to his mother and put them in her lap. "Look Mom, Lavender. They're your favorite."

Gilraen did love Lavender. These must be the first of the year. "Thank you little one. Now go back and play your game."

"Mom can I help you put the flowers in a vase?"

Gilraen nodded, "If you want to. My aren't we full of questions today!"

Estel giggled and led his Mother back into the house. He helped his mother put the beautiful purple flowers into the vase that Elrond provided. The two then took the vase upstairs and put it on the side table in Gilraen's room.

Later in the day Estel walked into the library. He was looking for his mother to ask her a very important question. He found her sitting in the library sitting on the window seat with her head leaned against the wall. Elrond was sitting in a nearby chair reading a book. Estel walked up to the window seat and tugged on his Mother's skirt.

Gilraen had a headache. She had gotten one soon after lunch and wasn't in the mood to be pestered. The woman had come to the library to get a few minutes to herself. Strider had been asking her questions all day long. Mom can I do this, can I do that. She loved her son, but Gilraen was growing tired of answering her son's a million and one questions.

"Mom can I.."

Gilraen cut him off, "Strider, I didn't have a child so that he could change my name."

The little boy was confused. He hadn't changed his Mother's name had he? "I did?"

Gilraen smirked and began to tickle her son, "Yes ion-nin you did. You changed it to Momcani. And I can assure you that is not my name."

Strider giggled with delight at being tickled by his Mother, "But mom, this is important!"

The woman sighed and looked at her son, "What is it little one?"

The little boy decided asking his mom the important question would only get him in trouble. Gilraen was not in the mood for a question that important. So instead he asked,"Can I have a kiss?"

Gilraen just smiled and kissed the boy on the cheek. The little boy took off running out of the library and down the hall.

The woman thought she heard a noise from the other side of the room. Was that laughter? Yes it was. "What are you laughing at?"

Elrond just chuckled as he slowly put the book down on the desk beside him. He slowly stood and began to walk out of the room. Gilraen followed him with her sightless eyes. "Oh, nothing really. I was just wondering when you were going to want dinner Momcani."

Gilraen picked up one of the pillows on the window seat and chunked it across the room. Elrond easily dodged the weapon and left the room as quickly as possible.

The woman called out, "You are worse than your children! I don't know how Celebrian put up with the three of you!"

Elrond peaked his head back into the library and asked sweetly, "You didn't tell me what time you wanted dinner, Momcani."

Gilraen pushed herself off the window seat, "That's it."

Elrond darted away around the corner and into his study locking the door behind him. Gilraen could make out his hysterical laughter just behind the door. This made her furious, well sort of. In honesty she was enjoying teasing the elf lord. It wasn't everyday he was this rambunctious.

Gilraen taunted jiggling the door knob, "Coward!"

At that moment the twins walked into the house and heard Gilraen shouting at the study door. They were carrying rabbits they had obviously managed to kill during the hunt. Dan gave his younger brother an inquisitive look. Ro just shrugged his shoulders. As the two started back down the hall toward the kitchen they heard Gilraen call out, "I'll eat dinner whenever it's ready. And for the last time my name is not Momcani."

Response to Reviews:

Elitenschwein: I'm so glad you are enjoying the story. And guess what this chapter is my first attempt at humor. I hope you enjoy it.

Grumpy: Yeah he isn't afraid of Elrond anymore. I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter and hope you like this one too.

Dark Borg Drone: Welcome back mellon nin. Here's another chapter for you.

Lindahoyland: I'm glad to review your brilliant stories. They are all so good. Here's another chapter for you that I hope you will like it.