Chapter 7

Evie's curly, red hair was wild as it hung over her shoulders and down her back, covering the majority of the white t-shirt, paired with her jean shorts and ankle socks.

She was sipping coffee while standing and looking out the kitchen window.

The focus of her gaze was a little platinum haired elf with delicate pointed ears, who was currently playing catch with their golden dog, Malthen.

Hearing the delighted childish laughter that rose through the open window, Evie smiled.

The joy he brought to her life. She really couldn't imagine a life without him now.

No, Evie, she thought, she couldn't think like that. He would be going back eventually.

She had spent countless hours when Legolas had gone to bed reading her grandma's journals and everything pointed to it being a yearly cycle. T

The reason though, that the portal hadn't shown itself like that before, was that someone needed to be near it, wanting to come through. Some weird sensory thing.

Frowning at a memory from the night before, Evie took a sip from her cup.

They were snuggled up together, Legolas under the blankets, and her on top.

Her arm was curled around him as she sang a lullaby.

The song came to a close and sensing the elf was relaxed with sleep, she unhooked herself and stood.

She bent over and kissed his brow.

"goodnight honey, have sweet dreams."

She began walking to the door, but was haltered by a small hand grasping hers. Startled, she looked back.

"goodnight Naneth."

The hand let hers go. She watched him for a moment, before resuming her route and softly close the door behind her.

Although very flattered by the endearment that Legolas had gifted her with only 3 months ago, she wasn't sure if it was entirely appropriate, given that she wasn't actually his mother.

She had tried to bring the subject up a few times with him, but there had always been an interruption.

Tomorrow is the day, she decided. It's time she knew what happened.

"Penny for your thoughts, Evangeline?"

Evie started at that request and looked across at her neighbour sitting opposite and cupped her steaming tea with both hands.

"I'm not sure you want to know, Mary."

"Try me."

"It's complicated."

"so make it simple."

"Legolas lost his mother."

"oh? Passed on? Or?"

"that's the thing, I don't know."

"it's bothering you."

"yes."

"have you asked him?"

"I've made a few attempts, but we were interrupted everytime."

"can you just let it go?"

"Ordinarily, I would have."

"I'm sensing a but…"

"But, he calls me…mother."

"oh, I see."

"you do?"

A female chuckle.

"you have a kind heart, Evangeline. You do not wish to replace her. Your brain wishes to know details so that you don't damage the memory of her."

Green eyes were wide.

Mary laughed again at her expression and tapped her nose.

"Mother's intuition. You may not be my blood, Evangeline, but I can read you as well as any of my other children."

Evie was touched that Mary felt this way about and suddenly felt all the more guilty for not visiting much before Legolas came.

"So how do I approach the topic with him?"

"You have his trust, you just need to create the opportunity for him to open up about it."

"but, how?"

"Bargaining."

She looked at Mary in confusion.

"You give him something, ask him for information about his mother in return."

"oh. Effective."

"yes, very. Just be careful though, he may not remember, as he may have blocked some memories."

Evie was thoughtful for a moment.

"proceed with caution."

"yes, absolutely. You read people very well yourself, Evangeline, you will know what to say when the time comes."

Evie took a sip of her tea.

"Thank you , Mary, you have no idea how his had helped me."

"oh, I think I do and you're very welcome to unburden yourself to me anytime. I know a thing or two about raising children."

Evie smiled in response to this. Yes, Mary had raised 4 children to adulthood, 2 boys and 2 girls. She could write a book.

"You have a question for me?"

Evie's eye widened in surprise again.

"How did you know?"

Mary just tapped her nose again and held out her hand in invitation to share.

"How come you haven't asked about his ears? I know you've seen them."

Mary's eye twinkled for a moment as she thought about her answer.

"Children are beloved in all their forms."

"not always."

"unfortunately, true. He is an angel that deserves love, just like you."

Evie was touched by this response and remembered it much later when she tucked Legolas into bed, humming a lullaby.

The next morning found Evie and Legolas seated at the table, plates piled with home made pancakes, which were drizzled in maple syrup and raspberries.

Evie raised her coffee to her lips and laughed at the little cheeks stuffed with fluffy pancake, sugary syrup all round his mouth.

"really enjoying those, aren't you, Honey?"

"mmmmmhhmm."

She laughed at the contented response and put her cup down.

"What would you like to do today, Honey?"

"anngnjrth."

"What was that?"

A big swallow to empty his mouth of food.

"Anything you like, Naneth."

That endearment again. It brought back Mary's words from yesterday. Bargaining. But what couldshe bargain with?

Inspiration struck her.

"You remember the wooden swords we got?"

"yes."

"shall we have a go?"

"it's called sparring."

"oh. Yes, let's spar. Will you teach me?"

A childish giggle

"yes, Naneth."

Pancakes all gone, he went to get up.

"dishes first, then sparring. Yes?"

"yes Naneth." Came the response with a cheeky grin.

Forty five minutes later, the table cleared, dishes washed and all traces of sugar wiped from one elf's little face, found Evie and Legolas standing opposite one another in the gravel courtyard.

Both had their fighting stance taken and arms raised with a wooden sword each.

"here are the rules: Every hit, you get to ask the other a question. Ok?"

"yes, ok."

"ok, go!"

And they were off, swiping and moving their bodies to avoid being hit.

Some would call it unfair for a grown woman to be playing this with a small child, but Legolas was not a regular child, he was an elf that was naturally light of foot and quick as lightening.

Evie had done some self-defence classes, but nothing like this, so it wasn't a surprise that Legolas scored the first point.

"How old are you Naneth?"

"it's rude to ask a woman her age. I have lived on this earth for about 1,500 years."

Little blue eyes were wide in awe.

"Let's go again."

And so they started again, Legolas, again the victor.

"Why do you have nightmares?"

Evie was stunned for a moment. She thought he hadn't noticed. He gave her an impatient look.

"i…I..It's always the same dream. I'm caught In the same rip that took my parents from me."

"What's a rip?"

"At the beach, it's a very dangerous current."

"You don't swim anymore."

This wasn't a question, but a statement.

"no. I can't go into large bodies of water without the fear."

The little elf was thoughtful at this. Seemingly satisfied, he spoke again, catching Evie off guard.

"again, naneth."

And so the sparring started again. This time however, it was Evie that managed to press her wooden blade to the little elf's neck.

"my turn. What happened to your mother?"

There she said it. He blinked.

She could see his face scrunch up in fright. She waited. He knew the terms of the game.

"She left us. Left me." A broken whisper, she almost missed it.

She immediately dropped her sword sensing his distress and kneeled before him, reaching up her hands to wipe away the tears.

"talk to me, Honey. Let it out."

And he did.

"I was running from my lessons to her suite. She was always in there, waiting for me with a treat. One day, she wasn't there. The room was cold. Her favourite cloak was gone from it's hook. I called for her, but she didn't answer me…"

He broke off here. The explanation had been difficult with the hiccupping.

"you don't have to tell me anymore, Honey."

He surprised her by continuing as is if she hadn't spoken.

"Adar exploded through the door. He was angry. At me or her, I didn't know. He told me to stop. He told me she had left and she wasn't coming back."

"He didn't touch you, did he?"

Legolas gave her a quizzical look.

"Adar is…harsh with his words. I think he was hurting."

Evie understood then, Elves were not violent to their young. And she sensed that there was more to it, but maybe Legolas had been too young and wasn't told any specifics of what drove her to leave.

"what was her name?" She had to know.

"Nessa."

That was enough for today, Evie thought. She drew the little elf tightly to her body and rubbed soothing circles on his back.

He snuggled into her in turn, taking deep breaths, relief evident in his body for sharing his deepest trauma.

He murmured in her ear.

"Please don't leave me, Naneth."

A sharp intake of breath. This made Evie's heart twist in her chest. She hugged him tighter in response, before releasing slightly.

He had to go back home. He wasn't hers to keep.

"I promise to love you always, Honey."

And she knew a way of putting his mind at ease and reinforce how much she loved him.

That was how they found themselves back at the shopping centre, His hand held in Evie's feminine one.

Legolas' hair once again styled in a way to cover his pointed ears.

They walked into a jeweller with lots of shiny things on display in glass cases.

She picked Legolas up and set him up on her right hip.

"ok, Honey, you pick something for me. Something that represents you so I can have you with me always."

Delight flashed in the little blue eyes as they roamed over all the pretty things sparkling under the strong light.

Silently, Evie walked around the shop so that Legolas could get a good look at the options.

A sales girl, dressed in black with long blonde hair, approached them with a bright smile.

"Hello. Are you looking for something in particular?"

"no, just having a look, thank you."

"No problem, let me know If you want help with anything."

"thanks."

Suddenly Legolas' hand pointed at something.

"that one."

She bent forward to look closer. She smiled and looked at the sales girl who had overheard.

"can we get a closer look at that necklace please?"

"of course."

The girl handled the silver pendent with care, laying it on a passed tray, which she then laid on the counter.

The chain itself was plain, silver links fitted together. The pendent, was however the showstopped, which was made of a clear crystal that reflected the light when moved.

It was the shape of a heart.

It was perfect.

She looked at Legolas, who locked eyes at her and nodded.

She looked back at the sales girl.

"We'll take that one please."

"Let me wrap it up for you."

"actually, can I wear it now?"

"yes, no problem."

"also, can we get something from that case too?"

"sure, show me?"

They moved over to the case on the other side of the store.

She had spied it and thought it perfect for her little elf to remember her.

A jade gemstone cut in a rough oval shape was hanging off the end of a brown leather braid.

"can we have that now too?"

"yes. Let me ring this up for you."

"thanks."

She took both necklaces and bent down to Legolas' level.

Evie put her crystal necklace into Legolas cupped hands and then lifted the jade pendent over his head.

It sat just over his heart.

He grinned at her.

"for me?"

"yes. So you never forget me."

"i'll never forget you, Naneth."

The little elf then stepped forward to reach Evie's necklace over her head.

It sat in the valley of her breasts, sparkling like mad when she moved even an inch.

Evie stood then to take care of the purchases.

"Your son is adorable."

She ignored the sharpness in her chest, not bothering to correct her and gave the girl a tight smile.

Once complete, Legolas and Evie walked out together, grinning like fools.