Chapter 142: Florien's Dog and Bellybuttons
Tonus stood up and took his plate to the kitchen. He had just finished a very nice slice of meat and was starting the clean the plate when the she-elf came up to him and took the plate and soapy cloth from his hands.
"I'll do that, dear." The she elf gently pushed Tonus away from the basin and began scrubbing.
"Yáviel, don't... You work hard enough keeping this house clean and keeping little Florien happy, I can wash my own dishes."
"You should really be returning to the palace, if you wish to keep Florien and I a secret from your father." Yáviel said quietly as Florien brought his dishes into the kitchen.
"Can I have a biscuit?" Florien asked quietly.
"Show me how much food is left on your plate." Yáviel turned her head so to be facing Florien, who showed his mother the plate, which was only half empty.
"You eat like your father, and you never finish anything... Take half a biscuit Florien." Yáviel watched to make sure her son did as he was told.
"You eat like your father? Surly I eat more then he does." Tonus smiled, peering over Yáviel's shoulder.
"From what I have seen you eat, no. You do not eat much Tonus." Yáviel smiled as Tonus moved his hair back behind his ear as it fell. Florien prodded Tonus' shoulder.
"Can I show you something?"
"Of course you may."
Florien took the prince gently by his wrist and brought him to his room, which was in the basement. Florien lifted up his quilted blanket and pointed to a large hole near the top.
"I know there is not much you can do with it now, but I wanted to let you know that it ripped when my puppy jumped on my bed two days ago... His claws made the hole." Florien sighed.
"Nana does not like your puppy, does she?" Tonus asked.
"Nana said that if he keeps wrecking the house I'd have to get rid of him. She made me take Calanon outside when he ripped the quilt, and I had to leave him there... Nana has no more material or thread so she cannot patch up the hole, and the blanket is already old and even if she fixes it I know it will break again soon."
"You need a new blanket Florien."
"I saw one I liked when I went to the market after leaving the palace a day ago, but I do not have enough money yet."
Tonus sighed and pulled the younger elf into an embrace.
"Don't spend your hard-earned money on a silly blanket. I can get you one; I will get the money no matter how I must do it. I know where my father keeps his coins and where the keys to that room are. If I must I will get some coins from there to buy you a blanket."
"He will be angry with you, and... Then he might find out."
"Don't worry. All you need to know is that you are going to be getting a new blanket."
"Thank-you." Florien kissed the prince on his nose.
'He deserves so much more than this, I am ruining his life by keeping his existence a secret from my family - his family.' Tonus thought sadly in his head as he embraced the small elf.
"I have to go Florien, I am sorry. My father told me to bring you home, not to stay for eating. I will try my best to come after supper tonight, and if I cannot I promise you I will come early in the morning tomorrow." Tonus pat Florien on his head and gave him a final kiss as he left his son's room out to the kitchen where Yáviel was now drying the dishes she had been washing.
"Florien!" She called, and Florien came upstairs quickly.
"Put your clothes in the wash now and bathe." Yáviel said. Florien nodded and pulled off his tunic.
"Where do I put it?"
"Just throw it in my room, I will be washing it later. Bring your dog with you when you bathe, he needs to be washed too."
"He's a puppy." Florien grumbled as he called for his puppy.
"Florien, your puppy looks... Ill." Tonus said, looking at the pathetic thing that came to Florien's feet before flopping onto the floor and whining.
"Something's wrong with him." Florien fell to his knees and rubbed his puppy's belly.
"Calanon, what's the matter boy? What's wrong?" Florien looked at his puppy and tears where in his eyes.
"What if he dies? He's my only friend." Florien shut his eyes and rubbed his dog's head.
"Florien, I will take him with me to the palace if you wish. I can get some healers to examine him, okay?" Tonus asked.
"All right, thank-you," Florien stood up and squeezed Tonus tightly. "Thank-you so much."
"Calanon, you're going to the palace now. They are going to make you better." Florien pulled off the dog's collar.
"Why are you taking that?" Tonus asked.
"It says that he belongs to Florien Tonus-ion. They will find out if I do not keep it here." Florien said, grasping the collar tightly as Tonus picked up the small black dog.
"I wont let him die sweetie." Tonus smiled at Florien, who left for his bathe and walked towards the door, Yáviel following.
"We cannot afford another dog for him Tonus, and he is very attached to this one... Please try and keep it living." Yáviel whispered to Tonus, who kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry, I know how importing the puppy is to him." Tonus pulled her closer with the hand that did not hold the small puppy and kissed her again.
"I love you, and I will be back as soon as the boy's dog is fixed," Tonus smiled. "Or even sooner. But I doubt my Florien would care to see me without his dog in my hands."
"Tonus, he loves you. He loves his dog too, but he loves seeing you since it is rare that he can see you." Yáviel said quietly to her beloved Tonus.
"Bye Yáviel, I hope to see you again soon," Tonus said softly. "FLORIEN! I am leaving now see you soon. Do not worry about your puppy." Tonus called out in elvish.
Florien tried to call back to Tonus, and Tonus could make out some sort of mumble, which seemed to be 'Good bye Ada'.
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Legolas was having a lot of fun. Legolas learnt that he had a belly button and that he could stick his finger in it too.
"So Legolas, did you like Lianna?"
"Ya... she was nice and fun."
"Well since she is nice and fun you should be glad that she would be moving to Mirkwood. Maybe you two could become good friends."
"Ya that would be nice." Legolas said, now amused by Haldir's belly button.
"Do you have any friends at your home?" Haldir asked.
"Yes... There's... Tavel, and Maeron, and... The twins, but they live in Rivendell. And you, but you live here." Legolas said, prodding Orophin's belly button.
"Ew, there's stuff in Orophin's belly button. It's yuck." Legolas wiped his finger on Haldir's pillow.
Orophin smiled and grabbed the small elfling and lifted him into the air quickly.
"Put me down!" Legolas screeched and kicked until his little bare foot went into Orophin's mouth. Legolas giggled.
"Ew! Elfling foot!" Orophin spat the small child's foot out and sat up.
Legolas giggled happily.
"Haldir, can we go... Outside?"
"Sure, but... Why don't you go outside with Orophin? And Rumil, who seems to have the keys to my house too since he has just opened my front door." Haldir said and watched as Legolas grabbed the two brothers and ran out side. Haldir was happy to have some quiet time, which he used to sleep and drink some ale (which he had not done since he had came to baby-sit Legolas many days ago).
To be continued...--- ANYTHING IN ITALIC IN THE STORY IS IN ELVISH...
I did not plan to do so much on Florien in this chapter. It got out of hand. Most of you guessed correctly who he was related too, and by the way slash is evil and will rot your minds... I did confuse one of you and for her sake (I really hope she's a she but since usually all my readers and females I am confident that I can call her a she) I will not be mentioning her name, but I know who she is... But you're all on the right track. I hope Florien's doggie lives.