Chapter 29: Strawberries and Chocolate
When Florien told Yàviel of the invitation, Yàviel was more than excited, for Florien. Florien had never had a friend, and now that Yàviel found out that it was Tiriel, a girl, who had invited them, Yàviel had to make sure that Florien kept this friend.
"Oh Florien, this is going to be your very first date! You'll have to wear your best clothes, and don't bring that silly flute with you! You'll have to get her flowers, nice flowers, not those weeds that grow in the back yard that look like flowers, and you'll need to braid your hair, no Florien I wont let you go on your very first day looking like you're not even worth a penny, you have to look as handsome as you truly are, yes Florien you are handsome don't argue with me." Yàviel was rushing around the house, looking for all kinds of nice things Florien could wear and bring.
"Come with me. I'm going to wash your hair and then we can see what we will be doing with that red mess tomorrow." Yàviel brought Florien to a basin and got some soap.
"Put your head back into the basin." Yàviel ordered. Reluctantly, Florien let his hair fall into the water and allowed his mother to wash his hair.
After Yàviel cleaned the boy's hair she got him a towel and ordered him to dry his hair. As Florien dried his hair with the towel, Yàviel went through his wardrobe trying to find a nice outfit that was clean and in a good condition.
"Why don't you wear this one, Florien? It's nice." Yàviel showed Florien a clean, purple tunic and grey-blue leggings with only a small hole at the knee and a little rip at the bottom of the tunic and at one of the sleeves.
"No, I don't think purple suits me. Anyways… That was Locien's. I cant wear it, it belonged to him and it still does." Florien said, putting down the towel once finished drying his hair.
"I will go see what clothes I have of your father's, though you realize he is much wider at the chest than you are, and his arms are thick with muscle… Ion-nin, you might be too small, bony I mean, to fit in his clothes but I will see…" Yàviel said, leaving the room.
Florien was unsure of why Yàviel was so eager to have him in nice clothes and such. Florien found it not such a big deal and had planned to just come in his work clothes with his flute and messy hair. Florien was sure Yàviel was taking this too seriously, and he doubted Yàviel even knew that he barely knew Tiriel.
Yàviel came back with armfuls of clothes belonging to Tonus, mostly blue and green tunics and a couple of them where soft night tunics.
"Try this on, Florien." Yàviel handed Florien a green tunic and white leggings. Florien fit the leggings quite well for his bony size, but the tunic was too big and bulky for his little frame.
Florien and Yàviel agreed that Florien should wear the white leggings, so Yàviel gave her son another tunic, this time a very pale blue.
Florien liked this one and, aside from the fact that it was a night tunic, it looked very good on him. It was large, but Florien almost fit it for it was smaller than the other one.
"Is ada really this big? I don't find he looks that muscular…" Florien said as he tried another tunic, one that was far too big for him.
"Your father is very muscular. He is a prince, and he trained with the rest of the Mirkwood army for many years before quitting. Your father has never loved fighting with any weapon, but he was trained, he had to be trained, for if ever he was to take his father's throne he would have to be able to fight. King Thranduil was once a valiant warrior, as was the king's father, your great grandfather." Yàviel said.
"Well, this blue one seems to be the only one that fits decently. I suppose I will be wearing it unless you have something else for me to try on." Florien said, picking up the pale blue night tunic. It was a very nice tunic, there where no royal designs on it like most of Tonus' outfits bore, but it was designed for Tonus by the maids of Thranduil and was very lovely.
"Yes, that is something you can wear, it looks quite lovely on you. Now sit down on your bed and I will brush your hair, we can try and figure out how we will have your hair tomorrow." Yàviel said. Florien was obedient and sat on the bed, his mother sitting behind him. She brushed the young elf's matted hair before starting to braid it, getting many moans and complains from Florien who did not usually brush his hair.
"Ai nana, that hurts a lot!" Florien said as his mother braided his hair.
"You should really brush your hair more often Florien. Your hair is messy, tangled and always dirty. If you cannot take care of this mess of hair then I think I might have to cut it off." Yàviel said.
"No! I'd be so… ugly… without hair!" Florien said, though he already thought he was ugly.
"Then take care of your hair if you want to remain attractive." Yàviel said.
"I'm not attractive." Florien said.
"If you are not attractive, then how come Tiriel came and invited you to a picnic?" Yàviel asked. Florien gave no answer, though he wanted to say 'Just so I could play music whilst she ate'. But he stopped himself from saying something rude like that.
"Alright Florien, tell me your opinion on this." Yàviel stood up and brought Florien to a mirror. Looking down into the water, Florien looked at his hair. Florien hated having his hair in braids but knew how 'noble braids make an elf man look', so his father said. Florien's mother had kindly given her son many braids, not alike Tonus' but very regal looking just the same.
"When your father was younger he kept his hair like that. But that was a long time ago, when his grandfather died he cut his hair shorter and stopped braiding his hair." Yàviel said. Florien admired the braids for a little while in the mirror before returning to his chambers.
"Now, you'll need flowers-
"Don't worry Naneth, I will find the nicest flowers possible." Florien smiled.
"Good. If there is any other gift you'd like to give her, tell me." Yàviel said.
"What about some chocolate?" Florien suggested. "Strawberries and chocolate! Naneth, I know from experience that strawberries and chocolate is the greatest combination ever!" Florien grinned.
"I know how much you love strawberries and chocolate ion. If you have the money and you can restrain yourself from eating all the chocolate and strawberries before tomorrow, then go ahead." Yàviel kissed her son on his cheek. Florien pulled out the coins he had earned today from playing his flute and counted.
"I could probably afford it, I will go buy the gift now and I will find out if this is enough." Florien said, grabbing his cloak and hurrying to town.
Florien checked around carefully, making sure Tiriel was not around. Florien wanted to surprise her with the chocolate and strawberries tomorrow and not have her looking over his shoulder as he bought the gift. Florien looked over to where Tiriel and her father had sat. There was no sign of them, not even any garbage left behind. Relieved, Florien continued on his way looking for some cheap chocolate and strawberries.
Florien found a stall that was selling only chocolate at a good, reasonable price. Florien bought what he could for Tiriel, making sure he had left over money for some fresh strawberries.
Florien found two shops selling strawberries at a low, low price. One was a bit more expensive than the other, but Florien decided to go with the latter of the two, the more expensive one, for the cheap one only had bad, bruised and old strawberries that not even strawberry-loving Florien would ever touch. Florien would be amazed if the shop owner ever sold the rotten strawberries, some even had bugs living on them or in them.
Florien returned home with five strawberries and chocolate. At home he wrapped the chocolate and strawberries, with help from his mother.
"Are you excited about your little date, Florien?" Yàviel asked after all her preparations had been made. Whilst Florien had been shopping, Yàviel had chosen out a nice dress to wear.
"It's not a date, nana, it's just a little picnic. I am happy to be going, and yes, I am eager to go. I still think you are making far too big of a fuss over this!" Florien smiled.
"I'm very excited about this Florien, for you! Maybe you two will become very good friends, oh and maybe when you are both grown you will wed and have little elflings and I will be their grandmother and-
"Nana! You are thinking far too much into the future!" Florien laughed. "Grandchildren? I am not even old enough to live on my own and you are picturing my children already?" Florien added with a smirk.
"I know very well that you are far too young to marry, but that does not mean I cannot imagine my grandchildren." Yàviel smiled.
To be continued…
Aranna Undomiel: You know, for some strange reason your review doubled… Ah well, two reviews for me! Yep, you've discovered the meaning of Maelui. Strange, eh? But Locien is a real cutie, so we cannot blame Veassen for his choice of name. Though, if I had to pick out which of my characters was the fairest it would have to be Florien.
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Yea, but it might confuse him if the shock does not make his memory come back.
Bberry06: Well after Thranduil comes and makes Cield stop crying and forces Galion to clean, Cield sticks out his tongue at Galion and laughs at the stupid butler.
Karone Evertree: No, I never mentioned it before… If you know deviant art, then you can go there and go see Jedi Gollum's page, and that's me, and you'll find a picture of Veassen I drew that also gives away a lot of his titles, otherwise known as IT'S A SPOLIER! Also I've got other random drawings of my characters, especially Cield… You can e-mail me for a link, if you want one.
Mistopurr: I am awaiting that e-mail… If you see what Aranna Undomiel said in her review for chapter 27, and it's what you think Maelui means, then it's right.
HCTHP (that's what I'm now calling you, Here comes the hockey puck): I like power… I like cheese, too. And sexy elves, like Florien.
CapriceAnn: Happy dances are fun. Comforting Haldir whilst doing a happy dance is the ideal fun game. But comforting Haldir whilst doing a happy dance with Haldir, Haldir being shirtless, is the best.