Thank you's today go to JJAndrews, ColdOnePaul, Lady Syndra, the random guest, and Awesomesause! I'm so glad you have enjoyed reading this story! I'll go over the story later to check for mistakes, but I have to leave soon and I wanted to get another post in before I was gone all day.
"How are we to proceed from here?"
The low murmurs that had previously filled the room were squelched by Glorfindel's question.
"Elrond and I have decided to bring her into our family— if no one here objects, that is. With the twins and Arwen already grown... we thought it might be nice to have an elfling underneath our feet again." Celebrian's statement brought smiles to those who were seated around her, though none smiled more giddily than her twin sons, both of whom were excited at the prospect of gaining a new little sister.
"I suppose congratulations are in order then!', Glorfindel said with a merry grin, clapping his lord on the back heartily.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Glorfindel.', Elrond replied dryly while he quickly scooted out of reach. "Though that only takes care of part of the issue. What of this 'language barrier'? I do not suppose you could do anything about the matter?', he added with a pleading look in his mother-in-law's direction.
"Nay.', Galadriel laughed. "Kaina will pick up the language of our kin soon enough. It will take patience and time, of course, but she seems like an intelligent child."
Kaina did indeed pick up Sindarin quickly, and far faster than anyone had expected, showing that her mental capabilities exceeded what they had first thought. They all knew she had the ability to sense fëar, but it had never occurred to anyone that perhaps she had different skills as well. Therefore it was a rather startling discovery to find out that she did have other talents beyond sensing other people's auras.
The beginning of this discovery happened on the day that the twins, Elladan and Elrohir, had taken it upon themselves to draw Kaina out of her shy demeanor. After all, they thought, if she was to be their sister then it would never do for her to be leery of their presence.
It was true that she still stayed with Lassiel and Thranduil in the guest quarters of Elrond's home, but that would change whenever the embassy returned to Greenwood.
"She has an odd fascination with plants.', Elladan noted, watching curiously as Kaina gently touched a wilting rose. The blossom seemed to perk up at the contact, making the brothers share an amused grin as she blinked cautiously at the movement. The brothers had decided that it would do the elfling good to be outside, so they had mutually decided to bring her to their mother's rose garden.
"I suppose that has never happened to her before.', Elrohir replied with a small laugh. "She most likely does not know that the elves are talented with gardening."
Elrohir was so busy speaking that he did not realize how close his hand had come to the sharp thorns of a particularly prickly bush. With a low hiss of pain he jerked his hand back to see a long red scratch running down the length of his palm.
"Ouch!', he yelped, blowing furiously on the cut to help ward off the stinging pain that it caused. Kaina's head jerked up, her wide brown eyes gazing curiously at him.
"Mani... naa ta?', she asked, stumbling across the phrase before toddling over to them and grasping the injured hand. Elrohir and Elladan were so surprised at her use of their language that they did not notice what she was doing until Elrohir glanced down in shock: the sting in his hand had disappeared!
"Dan...', he began, watching as the elfling happily moved back to the flowers.
"I know.', his brother interrupted, apparently as shocked as he was.
Kaina had pursed her lips as she studied the shallow gash that had appeared on the tender skin of her new comrade's palm. The man was grimacing slightly as he also viewed the minor injury.
"What...', she hesitated, frantically trying to remember the simple phrase she had picked up in their language. "...is it?', she finished. The identical men only blinked at her in surprise. With small sigh, the elfling walked toward them, carefully taking the fair-shaped hand into her own.
Applying gentle pressure, she smoothed the edges of the torn skin back together. Closing her eyes, Kaina cleared the thoughts from her crowded mind and concentrated on healing the wound.
"Think of the blood vessels, Kaina.', she remembered Master Kit saying. This had been one of her first lessons as a padawan— though only because she had tripped down a stairway in the temple. "They are knitting themselves together again, sealing the damaged skin. Now imagine a smooth expanse of skin... no scars mar its features... now open your eyes."
Mentally following the directions that had been drilled into her, Kaina peeled her eyes open, happy to find that the scrape had disappeared. With a happy hum, she skipped off to smell the roses again, though she was extremely cautious of the sharp thorns after seeing what they were capable of.
Much to her amusement, the twins continued to gawk at her as she watched them slyly from underneath dark lashes. With a mischievous giggle Kaina danced out of the garden, continuing to laugh softly at their awed faces as they stumbled after her.
Another such occasion that they made a discovery of her her bizarre abilities was the day they realized she could move things with her mind, which was extremely disconcerting to everyone involved in that incident, though they later found it humorous.
On this particular day, she was in the kitchen's with Legolas, who seemed to have a large sweet tooth. She had gained several new words to add her vocabulary, and although she still blundered through many of them, it had become much easier to have a conversation.
"Legolas?', she asked tentatively. "Are we... allowed in here?', she finally managed.
"Yes.', he grinned, a twinkle dancing around in his young eyes. "Dan n' Ro bring me here all the time!"
"Oh... Are you sure?"
"Yes, silly!', he giggled. "Lainos makes the best desserts ever!"
Kaina bit her lip, unsure of what to do. She wanted to trust Legolas... but the way he had snuck them into the kitchen's pantry made her suspicious.
Her natural intuition proved correct when she heard a loud bellow from who she assumed was the head cook. The blonde elfling who had led her here squealed, darting away and leaving Kaina gaping after him.
"Elladan and Elrohir Elrondion! You bring those pastries back!', she heard the man shout amid the pattering of feet and gleeful laughter of those who she knew to be the twins.
"Kaina!', Legolas hissed, his head reappearing around the corner. "Come on! We're gonna get caught!"
"But you said we were allowed in here!', she frowned. Legolas huffed, grabbing her arm and hauling her behind him.
"Come on!"
They rounded the corner only to see the twins also rounding the same corner. With a shout Elrohir caught Legolas up into his arms to avoid plowing into him, while Elladan did the same for Kaina, both pairs of them tumbling to the ground in their haste. Unfortunately, the twin dubbed 'Dan' had been the one holding the pastries and the platter that was holding the sweet goodies flew backwards several feet into the air, and much to Elladan and Elrohir's chagrin, the head chef Lainos appeared to be in it's path, oblivious that he was about to get a face full of sugary food!
Kaina held in hysterical laughter at the twins panicked expressions as the plate of sweets soared through the air. As far as she could tell, Lainos was still unaware of the danger he was in. Hastily squirming out of Elladan's arms, she rolled off of him and quickly placed her hand out, focusing on the platter that was still falling through the air.
The twins shut their eyes tightly while Legolas gave a tiny squeak, all waiting for the horrific collision of elf and desserts. But it never came.
Slowly prying their eyes open, the twins gawked at what they saw.
Lainos was impatiently tapping his foot, glaring daggers at them, and apparently unaware of his narrow escape.
"Well? What do you have to say? Where did you put my creations this time?"
Elladan and Elrohir ignored him, continuing to stare google-eyed at what appeared to be the platter of treats hovering inches above the cook's head!
Out of the corner of his eye, Elladan caught a glimpse of Kaina wearing a pleased smile, her outstretched hand only slightly visible from his awkward position on the floor.
"We don't have them!', Legolas chirped. "They're above your head!"
The twins shot him an anxious look, making silencing motions while Lainos' attention was not on them.
"Above my head?!', Lainos howled, though his eyes softened when he realized he had frightened the young prince. "Do you think I am dull-witted, little greenleaf?"
Legolas hurriedly shook his head.
"No!', he protested vehemently, making the chef hide a smile of amusement.
"Very well.', Lainos sniffed haughtily before turning to the twins. "I have no idea what you did with my dish, but I fully expect a good explanation while you two are helping wash the supper dishes this evening!"
They both gulped, following Legolas's example of nodding quickly. Whenever the chef disappeared from sight Legolas pouted.
"Why was he upset?', he whined. "I told him the truth!"
"We know.', Elrohir comforted, ruffling his hair.
"Kaina.', Elladan sighed. "What on earth are you doing?"
The elfling smiled toothily at them as the pastries seemed to float towards them.
"Helping.', she giggled.
"What were you doing in the kitchens?', the other twin pressed, giving them both a stern look. The tiny elleth gave Legolas a sharp look.
"What were you doing in the kitchens?', Kaina countered placing her hands on her hips, reminding them both that she was far more clever than an elfling should have been at her age due to the maturity of her mind before becoming an elf.
"Sneaking things.', Elrohir admitted, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
She laughed, swatting at his hand as he reached for a pastry from the plate she now held.
"Nope!', she smirked.
"But why?', Elladan moaned, plopping his head back down on the marble floors.
"Because I said so!', she chortled.
"I'll get you and the sweets, you little warg!', Elladan warned as he leapt to his feet and dove for the coveted items.
Kaina laughed, extending her hand to lift the plate far above the twin's head with the Force.
"No fair!', Legolas yowled. "Now we can't reach it!"
"I believe that would be the purpose.', Elrohir said with a wry smile. "How do you do that, Kaina?"
"Do what?', she asked.
"Move things as you do...?"
"The Force.', was her vague answer, making Elrond's sons exchange a glance. This was another odd ability they would have to explain to their father.