Lillian C1: Thank you for the review, I am glad you like the format of the story. I just love switching from the past to the future. I hope you keep reading.
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" Maehsos, are you sure my leg goes there?" asked Aeroniel as she struggled to hold her graceful position.
Maehsos nodded, he was playing the flute intro of " Autumn Awaking" and couldn't answer right away. He made the slow dancing circle around Aeroniel's figure and than slipped the flute into his pocket and took her hand.
They bowed and glided around the room fairly gracefully with a miss step here and there. They stood facing each other and joined hands, slowly bringing them down in an arch to their waist level. Maehsos took her by the waist and lifted her as she extended her arms up as if to reach the sun.
But then Maehsos wobbled and they came crashing down in a painful heap.
" I am sorry Aeroniel, you haven't broken any thing have you?"
" No, just bruised. I don't think we should try that lift with your arm not be quite…quite. You may hurt yourself more then you think"
" Nonsense, I stepped out wrong. We'll just have to do it again. If we could only have music with it. I wouldn't step out wrong if I had more them my own humming to aid in the timing."
Aeroniel nodded sympathetically." I know but lady Bethriel would know we were up to something if we were all continually disappearing. She already suspicious because my walk is more graceful and she saw me doing a few of the steps in the garden a few weeks ago."
Maehsos shock a finger at her as he pulled her to her feet. " You have to be more cautious Aeroniel, if she finds out she'll put a stop to it any way she can."
Aeroniel sighed, it was hard to keep a secret from the Lady, if Bethriel wanted she could wheedle a secret out of anyone. They continued and the next attempt at the lift went smoothly and she touched the ground as lightly as a feather. She pulled out Maehsos grasp and spun slowly as if ward off his touch. She was representing summer, reluctant to submit to the coming of Autumn (Maehsos.)
But like the seasons "Autumn" won and gently he began to guide "Summer" to allow her green leaves to fade and become gold and red. Autumn showing his own glory in the transformation of the green and youthful summer to the mature and wise fall.
They slowly circled the whole room and ended in the finishing point in the center of the room. It was the first time they had completed the entire dance without a mishap.
" Your doing very well Ronnie, Lady Bethriel won't believe it's you when we perform." said Maehsos smiling as he kissed the "Diva's" hand.
" I wish she would just leave me alone, I'm hardly a little girl anymore. And all the eflleths are treated as grown up at my age. I just don't understand her dislike of me!"
Maehsos sobered " She fears what you may do as a young woman that causes her to try to keep you young."
" You mean…she's afraid someone, an elf, will fall in love with me?"
" Yes"
" But she should know better then that! I am not a fool Maehsos and I keep my distance from everyone, but you and the twins and I know none of you would love me like that."
" Why Ronnie! You wound me to the core with your heartless words!" mocked the elf. Then he said seriously " But she does not wish to trust chance on this subject, and mostly she fears that it will be someone….well never mind. Come, you had better return to Melcinítan or he may feel tempted to reveal our secret!"
Aeroniel smiled and deep in thought went to the library, it was warm and inviting with a large fire burning in the grate. It was too keep the damp out of the books and scrolls, but often her and Melcinítan would sit before it during lessons. He was thoughtful of her " delicate human needs" as he put it. She loved the time in the library.
" Because books don't mind the hour you read them, or how ignorant you are and they don't chide if you make mistakes." "Or" and she always added this silently " Do they care if your human or not"
" Aha! My secret dancing pupil! You are here at last. I was just going over your poem on winter dear and I find it…overwhelmingly depressing. There are wonderful things about this cold season you know."
" I know, but at the time all I could think about was the fact that it is too cold for any flowers to grow and that I can't go out in the snow because Lady Bethriel's afraid that I will take cold." said Aeroniel as she reread the poem.
" Perhaps you should write something about your childhood winters when you were with your human family?" Melcinítan said ' There must have been very happy times and happenings, were there not now?"
Aeroniel sat although and said slowly "Yesss, but they are all about Christmas and that won't happen for thousands of years. I can hardly think about something that hasn't even happened yet."
" Of course you may! I would like to hear about Christmas very much, it would be new and cheerful I have not doubt, And that is the key, staying cheerful and merry during the long cold months of winter. Write a five page essay on the traditions of Christmas and see if that doesn't lift your spirit's a good deal." Melcinítan was sure that this would be the best essay ever and went bumbling around the room for more ink and pens.
Aeroniel shook her head in wonder at the sweet tutor, he was always encouraging her not to forget her heritage even in her new life. It was always important to remember where one came from he would say. This came from his own desire to keep Valinor fresh in his heart and not to let the vision of it fade from his mind. He had come to Middle Earth only because he was in the service of Fingolfin.
Aeroniel had not doubt that one day he would return to the Blessed Realm and be met by a large family not unlike her own. He had five sisters and three brothers of which he was the eldest. He said they all shared the same features and were more like twins than twins. They all had wheat blond hair and pale blue eyes and were all scholars, he missed very much.
And so he pushed her to think often of her family and tell him all about them. She had and he had dried many a tear as she cried over the sisters and brother she had lost. But now she rarely cried because they faded like a dream that had never really happened. She had adapted herself to the world in which she lived and they didn't fit in it.
" I hope you don't want me to be too detailed in my essay I have forgotten many of the songs that we sang then." she said as she bent over her work.
" Just do what you can and I'll be happy with that." he returned and began planning out the rest of her lessons. She was doing rather well in everything now, but that came from her desire to keep Lady Bethriel from guessing that she was working on anything else. Like learning how to dance.
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That evening Melcinítan read the essay Aeroniel had left him. Now he knew why she didn't mention Christmas, it screamed Family and she chose not to remember something so painful. But this " Christmas " was a wonderful thing, too sweet to let her forget.
" The only way she will remember is if Christmas is made here, with her new family." he said out loud. The breath of the idea had been tickling the back of his mind ever since he had read the essay. Rising he rang for a page and pulled out a clean scroll, dipping his quill pen in ink he wrote " silver bells" and " sleigh rides".
" My lord?" asked the page.
" Go to the steward with my compliments and ask him to step this way please. I have something to speak to him about."
The boy went and Melcinítan chuckled as he wrote down " Mistletoe" and " snow forts." This was going to be wonderful and would give all the castles impatient elflings something to do as well.
" What do you want my friend?" inquired Maehsos leaning over the tutor's shoulders and reading the script.
" Mistletoe?" he said rising a brow.
" It is a surprise for Aeroniel and the elflings. But I'll need your help and consent. But here read this first."
He handed the essay to Maehsos.
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Ron was standing on a vast plain filled with warring armies. Elves and men fought side by side. Black orcs surged forward and slashed wildly at the opposition. He looked down in his hand and saw a spear, it was familiar in his grasp and turning he saw a man in steel armor holding high a shinning sword. The man nodded to him and said " for Middle Earth." the man then hurled himself forward into the fray.
Ron went with him using the spear to cut down the advancing ranks of orcs, he whipped it around and slammed the hilt into the face of a vile lack creature. None could stand before him and he felt confidence build. He saw that they were winning, when something a figure in wrought iron armor came forward.
It was a giant and cut down wave after wave of elves and men. Ronald flung himself at the figure and grappled with it. They rolled and fought each reaching for the other in search of a weak point. Ron saw a golden ring on the other hand that surely had to be the ring. Desperately he drove his spear deep into the gut of the figure but it did nothing. The figure grabbed his throat and began to crush the breath out of him.
Just as the world was closing in black Ron saw his reflection the helmet of the thing. He was an elf!
Ron sat up gasping for breath and realized at he was in his own apartment, and in his armchair. He ran a hand through his own short hair and a loud sore from the couch reminded him that Bill was still there.
Ron saw by the clock that if he didn't get a move on he would be late for work. Getting to his feet the " Silmarillion" fell to the floor with a plop. It landed on its spine opening to the page marked in pencil " the fall of Gil-galad."
The night before he had Bill go through and highlight any passages about Fingon, Fingolfin and Gil-galad. He had read everything and must have fallen asleep while doing so. That would explain the dream, he went and showered, allowing the high pressure stream to beat against his back.
As he shaved he checked his ears just to be sure, it didn't hurt anyone. But as he drew the razor along his throat he saw raw, red marks! Frantically he wiped away the shaving cream and saw the clear imprint of four fingers and a thumb!
" What the heck!" he said.
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Aeroniel rolled over trying to ignore that fact that sleep was leaving and she was waking up. She buried her head deeper into her pillow, but that didn't help. Something was making her wake, it was a sound of bells.
Sitting up she looked sleepily around her room, and there along the canopy of her bed was a string of bells tinkling out a sweet good morning. They jumped and swung on the string reflecting the flash of sunlight that shone through the window. They were bright silver bells! Silver bells?
She followed the string long the bedpost and out the door. She threw a robe over her night gown and ran out hoping to find the little brownie who was working little miracles. But the corridor was empty of anyone. The sound of a giggle came from the corner around which the string trailed. Suppressing a laugh Aeroniel crept after it.
A sound of running feet let her know that she was heard and forgetting she was nineteen she gathered up her skirts and ran after it. She could hear the giggling quite freely now and she was sure it belong to one of the elflings of the castle. The string wound around corner after corner, until she was in the main room.
No one was here and the string ended in a package that lay in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and read the little white tag.
" To Aeroniel, our favorite Edain girl. So you can play in the snow with us. Love the children. Merry Christmas"
" Merry Christmas?" she said. She opened it and found a pair of sturdy winter boots lined with downy fur. They were just her size and oh so soft!.
Another tinkling of bells came from the stairs and she found another string that lead up the main staircase. Following it she found another gift, this time a thick fur lined cloak. It had a note that said " To a good pupil, Merry Christmas, love Melcinítan."
Of course! The essay! She should have known! But Aeroniel was rather confused, she had not celebrated Christmas since she found out that Lady Bethriel disapproved of it. She always did something special on that day, but never spoke if it to anyone else.
Now they were almost forcing her to celebrate it whether or not she wanted to.
And so it went, she always found another string and gift, until she found her way back to her room. There was a warm hood, gloves from Maehsos, and from Alassë a pretty comb for her hair. She touched each one and then resolved to thank each, and everyone. First she dressed and put her hair up in a wavy bun held up by the new comb.
Lady Bethriel hated it when she did it that way because it was the common way Edain women wore theirs; today she was all Edain and not ashamed of it. She went into the kitchen and found the mass of elflings eating breakfast in the mist of them Maehsos was clowning around.
" Look at Aeroniel! Isn't she pretty!" called a fat cherubim
The elves turned and said " Merry Christmas!" in ringing tones.
"Merry Christmas everyone, thank you for the gifts!" she said.
Maehsos came forward and touched her hair lightly. " Very pretty indeed, and I think that the King deserves to see just what a pretty little ward he has under his house. What do you all think?"
" Oh yes!"
" Can we come too?"
" Please say yes, please!"
The chorus of requests was met by a teasing frown by the steward and he asked Aeroniel " Do you think we should let this bunch of Hellions up to see the King? Do you think they'll behave well enough?"
The begging starlit eyes of the children moved to her face and she smiled and said " I do believe so, I seem to have heard that they gave an Edain girl some lovely boots. And for that good deed I think they do deserve that privilege."
They cheered and made as if to flood the stairs that moment, but Maehsos held up a hand and said " Now I don't think that the King will want to see oatmeal covered faces, do you?"
This came as a surprise to the eflings but they quickly saw the wisdom in this advice and so rushed off to the wash room instead.
Maehsos turned to Aeroniel and said " Quickly! Go and warn the King that a horde of happy, well wishing eflings are on their destructive way to bid him good morning. I'll hold them off as long as I can!"
The cooks and maids all laughed into their cups and traded smiles with Aeroniel. She took the Kings tray of breakfast tangerines and hurried up the steps to his room. She was just about to knock when she heard the voice of Aradan say " Yes, my Lord if you grant it I would seek to win her hand. She, and I are the only humans and we could comfort each other."
Aeroniel stood as if made of stone, she strained to hear the King's reply but it was muffled by the heavy door. What was he saying? Would he give that permission without asking her?
She pulled herself together and knocked loudly on the door calling cheerfully. " Good morning sire! I have your breakfast."
The door was pulled open abruptly and she faced a blushing Aradan. " Good morrow Aradan, excuse me."
She neatly side stepped and met the king with a brilliant smile and greeting. He took the tray from her and set it now the table. Taking her hand he spun her round saying " Why, who is this lovely young woman; who turns up her hair and moves so gracefully?
" I do believe it is your own ward Sire." said Aradan " And I agree, she's very pretty this morning with that blush on her cheek."
The king glanced at Aeroniel and saw the blush deepen to a painful pink. " So she loves him as well." he thought." Perhaps I have been wrong."
The door was bowled open and in poured the elflings saying " Merry Christmas your Highness!"
Fingolfin loved children and this sudden invasion was not unwelcome. He knelt down and grabbed up the first little eflleth that came his way. He sat her on his knee and inquired as to whether or not they had broken their fast yet.
" Yes, your Highness." They choused and he asked if they were too full to join him in a tangerine? Now this was a special pleasure and they all found that, yes, they could yet find the room for one of the tiny oranges.
Aeroniel watched the children cluster around the King a moment and then took her leave wishing to escape the eagle eye of Aradan, who had not ceased to gaze on her. She almost ran, but he caught up to her. He caught her arm gently and said " What's your hurry this morning Aeroniel? Will you not stop to speak to me?"
" I have thing to do my Lord, and I dare not linger for causal conversation."
" My lord? You may call me Aradan as you have always done. And I happened to know for a fact that you don't have any duties this day. Maehsos was with the King early and asked that you may have the whole day to spend with the children and himself."
" Did he? How kind of him! I shall enjoy that very much. I must go down and thank him!"
She made to go and he restrained her again. She stopped and looked down at his hand on her arm. He released it and said, suddenly awkward " May I claim some of your day my Lady?"
" Of course, I always have a moment for you my lord."
" No, that's not what I mean, I request to..to . My Lady " he said straightening to his full height. " I have asked the King for permission to court you."
She swallowed and asked " And what was the King's answer?"
He looked disappointed " He hasn't given me an answer as yet, but what do you think?"
" I cannot see my way to answer before my King does."
" Oh, come now, you know that I love Fingolfin and would willingly die for him; but surely you could answer this without his consent."
She drew herself up to her full 5'9 and said icily " I am afraid not my Lord Aradan, I regret that I cannot answer you now for my answer depends wholly upon that of the king. I must also ask that you do not speak of this to me again until you hear from the King himself."
" Now if you will please excuse me, I have to see the steward."
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Dear Reviewers
I love to hear from you all. Hope you like the cliffhanger. I wish to inform you that Aradan is a real character in the "Silmarillion." He was one of the young earnest men that lived with the elves and learned their language. His Edain name was Malach, I think.
Anyway you have to review to get the next chapter! I know I am too, too, cruel."
Love always
Jaffee.