Many thanks to...
Lady Syndra— (Thank you!)
Woman of Letters— (Thanks! And in answer to your question, I am definitely planning on it. It may be nothing major, but I do have plans for that.)
Reiluna— (Wish granted! I'm so glad you like this story!)
"Elrond? Who is the elfling sitting beside Lady Lassiel?"
Elrond quirked an eyebrow at his seneschal as the ellon took the empty seat to his left; Glorfindel was late for dinner for the third time that week.
"I am surprised Glorfindel! You have already met Legolas— several times, I might add."
"No, the other one— the small elleth with brown eyes."
The Lord of Rivendell was surprised when he turned to glance at his long-time friend and councilor. Where Glorfindel was usually cheerful, his face was grave as he gazed at the elfling seated by Thranduil's wife.
"I believe they call her Kaina. She was found near the borders of Greenwood by Thranduil."
"There is something...', Glorfindel began, trailing off into quiet thoughtfulness.
"There is something...what?', Elrond pressed.
"Her fëa. It's... strange. Certainly brighter than what I have seen in an elfling before...', Glorfindel mused, his golden hair falling around his face as he leaned forward on the table to continue staring at the little girl.
"I am afraid I will never be able to grasp the thought that you can see both the worlds of the Seen and the Unseen.', his friend chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. "It continues to amaze me."
"Hm.', the seneschal hummed in agreement, too occupied with the elfling to form a coherent statement.
"It's rude to stare, you know.', Elrond laughed, moving his hand in front of Glorfindel's face to grasp his attention.
"Forgive me.', Glrofindel shook his head as he brought his eyes back to his friend. "It is only that—"
The elf stopped mid-sentence once more, much to the annoyance of Rivendell's ruler.
"Glorfindel? What is it?"
"Elrond.', he said, his voice low and deep. "What is Kaina doing now?"
"She is— I actually don't know."
Glrofindel eyed the child once more. She appeared to be chewing a piece of bread, though her eyes seemed to be screwed shut in concentration.
"We need to speak after supper."
"I am afraid I cannot; I already promised Thranduil that I would speak with him about the youngling."
"Excellent.', Glorfindel smoothly replied. "That is exactly what I wish to speak about."
Kaina slowly nibbled the slice of strange bread, which was unlike anything she had had before. It was light, while still being dense enough to satisfy her hunger.
Sighing, she set the delicious fare down and thoughtfully stared into the blazing fire that lit the dining hall.
"Man el aes, Kaina.', Lassiel smiled softly at her, motioning to her uneaten bread.
She nodded, quickly biting into another piece, when the doors to the hall opened and a man with long golden hair entered.
His eyes fell on her, his brow creased as he studied her closely. Kaina reached up to wipe her mouth, thinking that perhaps he was staring at her because she had some crumbs stuck to her lips. The man's lip twitched into a small smile as he saw the movement, and he quickly moved to sit at the head of the table with the man who had greeted them upon their arrival into the city.
Kaina caught him staring at her more than once over the next several minutes, and it began to make her nervous. She slowly closed her eyes, searching for the force signature of the strange man.
Her eyes squinted as she focused on his force signature, her lips puckered as it slowly formed in her mind. The colored blurs slowly drew together, materializing an image with painstaking slowness. Kaina had already learned that the signatures of the pointed creatures were different than most of the beings she had come in contact with. Their signatures seemed more diverse, and each aura was uniquely its own color. In her own universe, everything had been seen in vibrant blues and greens. But here... there were more colors than she had ever imagined possible.
The particular force signature she was studying had something that the others lacked. It was bright, as all of the others had been, but it was also... otherworldly, almost as Qui-Gon had looked in her mind. Yet there was also something conspicuously different between Qui-Gon and the man under her scrutiny— something that bothered her as it danced just beyond the reach of her awareness.
Kaina cautiously reached out with her consciousness, letting it gently brush against the man's vibrant gold aura, trying to find what had caused her uneasiness. As soon as she felt her mind brush against this curious being's, his spirit seemed to jump to life with a flame of vivid recognition. It startled her to the point of where she quickly withdrew, popping a pice of bread into her mouth to keep from squeaking aloud.
The golden haired person seemed to be a force sensitive. At least, that was the only way Kaina could think to explain it at the moment. How else would he have been able to sense her consciousness brush against his own?
"And you are certain that that is what you felt?"
"I am. Her fëa most definitely brushed against my own."
Thranduil had sat quietly for most of the meeting, letting Elrond voice his thoughts on the homeless elfling. To say that he was surprised when Glorfindel spoke of what had happened during supper would be an understatement.
"That is a rare thing to happen, especially in one so young.', Elrond mused.
"Yet it would explain much, if shecan sense the fëar of others.', the Elvenking muttered to himself.
Both of the other elves in his presence turned their gazes to him, imploring him to continue with that train of thought.
"She sensed your border guards, even before I did, Elrond. I have noticed that Kaina's behavior seems... quite eccentric at times. She would often wander away to find a quiet place whenever we would set up camp."
"Strange indeed. But there is one thing we should consider. Only those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm gain the ability to see in both worlds, and yet I doubt that the little one has ever been beyond the shores."
"Perhaps she is a new theme in Illuvatar's music? One who has only recently emerged?"
Glorfindel scoffed at Thranduil's idea (which, in the Balrog slayer's defense, it was a rather ridiculous one), making the Elvenking glare at him. While he may have gotten along famously with Elrond, he could barely tolerate his friend's seneschal.
"I highly doubt that is the case. She is as elven as you or I.', Elrond cut in, giving both of his companions stern glances.
"Then what is she?', Thranduil wondered aloud.
"She is an elf.', Glrofindel grinned.
"Obviously.', he shot back. "But of what race? And why can she sense things that others cannot? You can only sense these things because you...', he stopped short, a look of horror falling over his face.
"You— you do not think she died? Do you?"
"I do not know what to think.', Elrond replied gravely. "This is a perplexing matter— even more so because she cannot understand us."
"Send word to your mother-in-law."
The Lord of Rivendell blanched, making Thranduil and Glorfindel smirk. If there was one thing they agreed on, it would be that it was fairly amusing to see Elrond afraid of his wife's mother.
"Lady Galadriel is not a Balrog, Elrond.', the Woodland King chuckled.
"Though, she is scarier than one.', Glorfindel added.
"You would know.', Elrond grumbled sourly. "You're the one who died because his 'beautiful' long hair attracts the demons of Morgoth!"
The seneschal gave a mock gasp of hurt, falling dramatically into an armchair.
"You wound me, my lord!"
Thranduil rolled his eyes and poked the golden warrior in the side, making Glorfindel yelp in surprise. They seemed to be reverting back to the days of childish behavior before suddenly becoming more sober.
"Send word, Elrond. Lady Galadriel may be able to communicate with the child."
The elf gave a slow nod of defeat.
"I will send word as soon as possible. But until my wife's mother arrives, we shall have to keep a close watch over Kaina. Perchance we can find out more about her strange awareness."
Glrofindel gave his own nod, his own of agreement instead of dread, while Thranduil only stared out the study window thoughtfully.
"Elrond, one thing still plagues me... why can she not understand anything we say? She has learned a small amount of Sindarin as she traveled with us, but before that she had no knowledge of any language that was spoken on Arda. Not that I have ever heard, anyway."
"Perhaps you are not as educated as you think, Oropherion?', Glorfindel goaded.
Thranduil's ignored the remark, waiting patiently for Elrond's answer.
"I suppose we shall find out when my—' Elrond gulped nervously. '—mother-in-law gets here."
The next week was sunny and clear, apart from a small shower here and there. Lassiel sat in the gardens with several other ladies as they had done over the past several days, their needlework in their laps as they chatted companionably about the odd happenings of the world.
Those who had children had brought them along, and there were now several elflings engaged in a lively game of tag as they wove in and around the trees, their mothers watching them fondly.
Lassiel gave a small smile as she saw Legolas shout happily as he finally caught up to one of the swifter younglings. Her little greenleaf would soon be among the swiftest runners, she thought with a happy flutter in her stomach.
"So', Celebrian started with a wink in her friend's direction. "Elrond tells me that you and Thranduil have taken this mysterious elfling underneath your protection?"
"Yes.', Lassiel sighed as she whipstitched the edge of a pocket handkerchief. Elves did not usually need the linen squares as they rarely got the sniffles, but more often than not Legolas would have a smudgy face that needed wiping.
"Yes, until we can find her parents."
"And if you cannot?', Celebrian whispered, her voice dropping lower so the other ladies were not privy to their conversation.
"Then I suppose she will either stay with us, or we will find a good family to take care of her. Legolas might like to have a sister.', Lassiel pondered.
"Speaking of siblings, Elrond and I have been thinking of having another one, especially since mine have all come of age."
"Oh, Celebrian! That's wonderful!"
"But if we do decide not to have another one, perhaps we could consider fostering Kaina? I know I would not be against it."
Lassiel eyed her friend with a twinkle in her eye.
"I will definitely speak with Thranduil about it."
Her eyes searched out the subject of their discussion, and she furrowed her brow in concern as she saw the small elleth in the same position she had been in earlier.
"Kaina worries me sometimes, Celebrian. She has not played with the other children since we arrived; instead she sits underneath that big oak. Her eyes close too, though when I asked your husband he said that as long as she seemed healthy she should be fine."
"Does she sleep well at night?"
"Not exactly. Thranduil has had to chase away her night-terrors several times in the middle of the night. They have gotten so bad that we have placed her across the hall with Legolas, since his room is much closer than her's is."
"Poor dear.', Celebrian murmured. "My mother will hopefully be here soon to help us puzzle this whole thing out."
"I hope she arrives soon.', Lassiel replied wistfully.
Guide...
Man el aes— eat your food
elleth— female elf
ellon— male elf
fëa— spirit
fëar— spirits