Chapter 26: The flute
When Florien left his bath, he wondered where his father and mother where. Their bedroom door was locked, so Florien knew they must not want him entering. Being a good lad (and a smart one), Florien did not try and hear what they where talking about or figure out what they where doing and went to his bedroom, the basement.
Florien went through a book his father had made him, a book of pictures of Florien and Locien. Florien cried as he turned the pages, looking at Locien.
When Tonus and Yáviel had finished in their bedroom, they went down to see Florien. Florien noticed his father's hair was rather messy and he had red marks on his neck (Yáviel is quite rough when handling Tonus).
"Florien, come with me." Tonus said. Florien nodded, putting away the book and following Tonus. Tonus lead Florien up the stairs and gave Florien his cloak. Tonus took a cloak for himself and made sure to cover his face well. Tonus beckoned Florien to follow him.
Tonus brought Florien through town. Florien tried to hide his face like his father had when they where approaching the vender who he had stolen from and who had beaten him for stealing, but he could not and when the merchant saw him, he ran up to Tonus, not knowing who it was.
"Are you that one's father?" The vender asked. Tonus nodded his head, face still completely hidden.
"Well then maybe you'd like to know I caught him stealing. I don't know much about you elves, but I gave him a good beating for it. I doubt he ever told you, so maybe you'd like to know." The vender said. This vender was a man from Lake-Town.
"…You did the right thing… When I get him home I will also give him a beating, one he wont forget." Tonus said in a disguised voice before continuing on his way. Florien had gone pale, almost white, and ran up to be beside his father.
"Ada, are you really going to beat me? Please, don't, that merchant beat me very hard already, I've learnt my lesson-
"Florien, I would never beat you. What that merchant did to you was wrong, especially since you are not his child." Tonus said softly and very hushed.
"Good…" Florien whispered. He did not ever wish for another beating, though he might still steal from merchants for his family.
Tonus brought Florien into the forest, not deep. He brought his to a tree.
"How would you like me to make your flute with the wood from this tree?" Tonus asked, ready to make the flute as he took out a small knife. Florien stiffened.
"That tree is where Locien died. His head, at one point collided into that tree, hard enough to damage his brain, to erase his memory even…" Florien said, pointing to a thick branch.
"That's his blood." Florien said, pointing to a red stain on that branch. "But, if you would make me a flute with this branch, I would love it." Florien said. Tonus did not know why his son wanted a flute made of wood with Locien's blood on it, but nodded his head and cut off the branch.
Florien watched his father as Tonus skilfully carved the flute. In an hour, Tonus had finished and handed his son the flute.
"Do you know how to play?" Tonus asked. Tonus himself could never understand the strange instrument; his tutors had all screamed at him and gave up teaching him music, though Tonus still had a fine voice for singing.
"No… But Galion, he knows. Galion and I are friends, ada, he can teach me." Florien said softly. Tonus nodded his head and pulled Florien close to him.
"I love you Florien, so much. You're being strong." Tonus kissed Florien on his brow.
"I love you too, ada." Florien smiled. "Thank you for this, I will treasure it." Florien said.
The next day Florien was eager for work. On his lunch break, he planned to ask Galion to teach him the flute.
Galion did, for Galion had a soft spot for Florien. Galion pitied Florien, and if Galion could get his hands on Florien's parents, he would tell them to care for the elf better, unaware of who they where.
When Florien was finished work, he could play some songs on the flute. If Florien was taught well, he learnt fast. And Galion had taught him well. So instead of heading home, Florien head through town.
Florien found a spot in the town near the shops. It was a busy spot, and he sat and started playing his flute, just like that. To Florien's joy, elves stopped to listen, and many dropped coins by him. When Florien was finished playing what he knew how to play, he collected the coins.
For the next few months, this was what Florien did. He would go to his job as servant, go to town and play music for the money, use the money for food for his mother and himself and go home where he would eat, sleep, and go back to work.
Florien's birthday had just passed recently, and this day he had a day off. He did not need to go to the palace or work at all, but he took his flute anyhow and went to town. Yesterday Florien had not eaten at all, he did not have money and they did not have food. Florien needed to earn money.
Florien played his best songs and worked as hard as he could until near the end of the day, when he had no more to play. Florien did not fail to notice that a woman eating with another man did not take her eyes off him. She looked young, probably a bit elder than Florien.
Florien took what he had earned and approached a merchant, Florien wanted some fresh bread. The she-elf who observed Florien saw that the merchant shook his head; clearly Florien could not afford the bread. The she elf had an untouched baguette with her (she was having a picnic with another elf).
Florien left that stall and took a seat where he had sat to play his flute, but he would not play anymore. Florien clutched his stomach as he felt hunger pains, and the she-elf saw the pain on Florien's face and knew he must be starving. The she-elf had seen Florien before, now Florien was famous for coming to town to play music for money. The she-elf had taken a liking for Florien, though she never found the courage to talk to him, now she was actually embarrassed to see him, for once she had been walking home and passing a stream, she saw Florien stripping to go bathe in the water.
The she-elf knew he must be poor, not only because he was always here earning money, but also because of how scrawny Florien was. When she had saw him strip (she could not help but watch, she had a crush on Florien), she saw his abdomen for his ribs where so visible it was nearly scary.
The young she-elf, from what Florien could see, said something to the elf she ate with. The elf nodded his head and the young woman took the baguette from the basket of food that they had brought and approached Florien.
Florien looked up at the she elf, who offered him the bread she held.
"You look hungry, sir. Have this bread." Florien looked at her before accepting the bread. She was pretty, with nice clothes and blonde hair.
"Thank you… Do you want a song for this?" Florien asked, not eating until he was certain he should accept the bread.
"No, nothing. Eat it, my father and I have plenty of food." The she-elf said before turning to return to her father.
"Wait! What is your name?" Florien had to ask. The she-elf turned her head and smiled.
"My name is Tiriel, sir. What is yours?" Tiriel asked Florien.
"Florien." Florien said. Tiriel smiled.
"Well met Florien." Tiriel said as she returned to her father.
Florien stayed in town, slowly eating the bread. He only wanted to eat a quarter of it so his mother and he could have more today and tomorrow, so whilst he ate that quarter he watched Tiriel and her father. Florien wished he had such a bond with his own father. Florien loved Tonus a lot but he knew a bond with Tonus would never happen, for Tonus was trying to hide Florien and Florien knew it. Florien knew he could not mention his father to anyone, he could not speak of the royal family to anyone and he most certainly could not say he had a father. Tonus had always told Florien to say his father had been killed, and Florien recalled the one time he had nearly said who his father was he had been punished by Tonus later on.
Florien knew as well that he and Tiriel could never become friends. She clearly had money and a father, and he could never let her know that prince Tonus was his father. Florien wished he could though, he wished he could let someone know of who his parents where.
When Florien was done eating a bit of his bread he packed his flute away before he left to return home. Tiriel saw that Florien was leaving, so left her father and ran up to Florien, being careful not to dirty her dress.
"Florien?" Tiriel said softly. Florien turned around and smiled.
"I wanted to know if you would be here tomorrow." Tiriel asked quietly. Florien was getting his pay from Thranduil tomorrow, and usually that meant he did not have to play his flute in town. But Florien did want to become friends with Tiriel, he had never had a friend before.
"Yes, I will be." Florien said gently.
"Well, I know you usually play music but I was wondering if you would like to join my father and I. We come here near the shops often to picnic and I would like it if you came." Tiriel asked softly. Florien smiled.
"Of course I will come, I would be honoured too." Florien smiled.
"You could bring your father with you, if you want. He could keep my father company." Tiriel offered. Florien sighed.
"My father is… dead." Florien lied.
"Oh, I'm really sorry… Is your mother around, though? She is welcome to come."
"Yes, she is. I am sure my mother will come." Florien smiled.
"Good. I will see you tomorrow then, Florien." Tiriel said, and a little worried to what Florien's reaction would be, she gave him a little kiss on his cheek. Florien's face turned red fast.
"Bye Tiriel, I will tell my mother of your invitation." Florien said before turning around and leaving quickly, embarrassed that he had blushed so much because of a little kiss.
To be continued…
Next up… A chapter about Veassen! Oh, if your pissed off whilst you read the next chapter you'll get more pissed off!
Karone Evertree: Yea, Veassen is not very kind. But now that he's in the story, he's going to be around for some time. In fact, the final chapter of this story shall be dedicated to him… Veassen (as well as Locien) is a half-elf. You'll hear more of it in the next chapter, where his father will make an appearance.
Caprice Ann "Obsessed with Haldir like JediGollum is": (Your name is even longer than before, gah!)… I like that idea, but how about we switch some things around, because I cant let anyone find Locien since he has to be captured in the future to save someone's life. Well, I cant say who I want to switch places with Locien because this elf that I speak of is not captured yet and I should not blow the secret now should I?
Here comes the hockey puck: Dragon flame is really great because it's on the internet but there is a max of 800 visitors so if I'm writing later in the day, say after school which is when I often write, I cant use it!
Bberry06: Of course they are good slaves… They never die on you!
Mistopurr: Hehe, maybe half naked elf was posing for Erestor, cause you know a lot of people think that Erestor and Glorfindel where meant to be… Sorry, not telling… You'll find out eventually, sooner if you try and find the translation. Maybe if you search Maelui at google you'll find the translation, maybe… If you don't know what google is, go to google and search google.