Inner Beauty
Eleniel: 15
"Ada?"
"Mhm?"
"Am I… ugly?"
The expression on Lord Elrond's face as his head snapped up at that question was one of absolute disgust. He looked at Eleniel, who was sat cross-legged on the floor, back to the sofa opposite his desk.
"Of course not, Eleniel! What on Middle-earth possessed you to say something like that?"
Eleniel glanced down at her fidgeting hands and sighed. "Nothing."
Elrond frowned, head tilted to the side before he placed his book down on the wooden desk in front of him and stood to his feet. He reached his daughter and sat next to her, looking at her bowed head.
"Eleniel," he said quietly, reaching out to lift her chin up. "Why would you say that about yourself?"
"Things have been… said… about me."
"What things?"
"That I am ugly and do not deserve to be your daughter."
Elrond had to sit back in shock, anger boiling in his blood. "Tell me this minute who said these things," he ordered, his words coming out harsher than he had intended.
Eleniel hesitated before replying. "B-Beinion."
Elrond scoffed. "Beinion. Of course. That orc just does not know when to stop, does he?"
"Ada!" Eleniel said. "You cannot call him that!"
"I can and I will!" the elf lord practically shouted before he turned back to his daughter.
The elleth's face fell as she looked at the remorseful expression on her father's fair features, and she felt tears welling in her eyes.
"Eleniel, iell nin, iell vanima nin, do not believe a word that comes out of his foul mouth, do you understand?" Elrond told her gently. "You are the most beautiful elleth to ever walk Middle-earth, both inside and out. There is no one alive who I would rather have as my daughter besides you and Arwen."
Eleniel nodded. "Hannon le, Ada."
"I only speak the truth, tithen fileg nin, only the truth. All the stars in the sky could not amount to your beauty, do you understand? Your heart is the purest and the most stunning and there is nothing in this world that is more important than that."
Eleniel nodded, feeling her tears stream down her cheeks as she looked at the adoration and love in her father's eyes. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around Elrond's neck and hugged him tight, feeling him return it.
When they pulled apart, the elf lord hastily wiped his eyes and drew in a shuddery breath before smiling faintly. "Now," he said with a new spark in his once sad eyes, "let us go and find Glorfindel."
Elvish used:
Ada – Dad
Iell nin – My daughter
Iell vanima nin – My beautiful daughter (I think. The elvish word for 'beautiful' is 'vanima' so I kinda stuck it in there XD)
Hannon le – Thank you
Tithen fileg nin – My little bird
I wondered if insecurity in elves is a thing. I mean, they're so beautiful! But so is everyone in this world, and there is a lot of insecurity... I have felt it more times than I would have liked, as I'm sure a lot of you have. But Elrond's words are for all of you out there. You are beautiful, and if you don't agree, the Lord of Imladris will stick you in a room with Glorfindel while he rattles on about how all is good in the world and how you are so absolutely perfect and he won't stop until he's convinced you. :)
I hate Beinion. Why did I create him? ~ Gre3nleaf