Chapter 29: Gift Giving
Carefully she removes her mask so she can see what she's eating. Trying to eat pizza with a mask on was kind of hard and it prevented the wonderful smell of the food from entering her nose. Courtney looked up at Elrohir as he pulled her chair out for her, helping her to sit down beside Stephanie. Elladan was on Stephanie's other side, and once convinced that his beloved was comfortable where she was sitting, Elrohir took his seat beside her.
"Wow you guys, this is just too good to be true," gingerly, she takes a bite of the delicious and familiar food, savoring its taste since it was rare that they got pizza. It was a hassle for the cooks to make since it was new to them, but when pizza was made, it was greatly appreciated.
Stephanie smiles at her friend and gives her a quick hug. "This had to be special, Court. I mean, you're 18 now. Legally an adult." She laughs softly and takes a bite of her own pizza, taking a look around the table at the elves around them, trying to figure out how to eat the gooey cheesy mess. Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor, and Legolas, as well as Thranduil and Celeborn knew how to eat it, since they had eaten it before, but it was amusing trying to see everyone else have a hard time of it.
Courtney nodded her head in reply, also noticing the trouble. She clears her throat and smiles. "Hands, people, use your hands. Like this." She picks up her piece of pizza and takes a bite, then sets the food back down onto her plate with a knowing smile. She swallows the bite and takes a sip of her ice water. "See? Easy."
Elladan and Elrohir laugh and smile at her as a noble stands up, addressing Courtney. "You're telling us to eat with our hands? Are you crazy?"
"Go ahead and use a fork if you wish. It's just more fun to use your hands," Allison smiles at Courtney, more than happy to back up one of her best friends.
The three girls laugh, Courtney looking up at the nobleman who'd addressed her. "I guarantee that you'll live if you eat with your hands, my lord. It's not going to kill you."
The nobleman sat back down once more and stared at his piece of pizza for a few moments, then finally gave in and picked it up with his hands, taking a bite, then smiling as he chewed it, directing the smile at Courtney who nodded her head politely, smiling back.
Allison leaned in closer to Courtney and Stephanie, speaking softly. "Some of these people are just too much to handle. For goodness sake!"
Stephanie laughed behind her hand and then sipped her water. "Well they aren't used to how we are and how we eat, Al. I mean, these are very well rounded people. Not freaks like us."
Courtney looked at the petite girl with mock horror. "How dare you call me a freak on my birthday, Steph!"
They were all laughing when Elrond decided to enter the conversation. "Mellyn-nin? What's going on with you three? Care to share?"
"Well, it's really not all that important. Stephanie was teasing me, that's all," She had to really hold back her laughter. Courtney decided that it was a good time to take a drink of her water and so she did, to hide her mirth.
The other two had no trouble giggling as they ate, Elrond and the others watching them with smiles. Celeborn leaned in closer to Elrond and laughed. "They sure do know how to brighten a room, do they not my friend?"
"That they do, hir-nin. Their laughter never dies down. It's a constant thing. I've grown accustomed to hearing it from day to day and my sons are absolutely smitten. I never thought I would see them this happy. Not since their mother died," Elrond sighed softly, his smile fading a bit at the mention of Celebrian.
Celeborn laid a hand on his son-in-law's shoulder, smiling gently. "Don't grieve this night, Elrond. You'll see her again one day. For now, let's enjoy the festivity."
Elrond chuckled softly to himself and sipped his wine. "You speak wisely. Thank you."
A couple hours later, once everyone was done eating, Elrohir led Courtney by the waist to a chair in the middle of the room. She looked at him, a little confused, as he smiled softly and kissed her lips, whispering to her. "Relax. Presents are always fun."
Smiling with relief, Courtney kissed his cheek and took a look around her. Everyone stood around her, holding his or her gift for Courtney in their hands. The other guests had left and it was down to the twins, Arwen and Estel, Legolas, Thranduil, Celeborn, Glorfindel and Erestor, and Elrond, as well as Stephanie and Allison.
Elladan stepped forward first, smiling softly at her, kneeling down to kiss her cheek and place a box on her lap. It was wrapped in silver paper and tied off with a green bow. "Happy Birthday, mellon-nin." He continued to kneel there in front of her, just smiling.
"Thank you, 'Dan," She looked down at the box and untied the ribbon then ripped through the silver paper. The bow was wooden and on the lid her name was carved in elvish script. Carefully she lifts the lid, smiling at what she saw inside. There were three bracelets. One was made of mithril, small oak leaves carved into it. The second one was made of gold, small diamonds set into it. The third one was pure obsidian. It had no decoration. It was beautiful just as it was. She puts them on and sets the box beside her, hugging Elladan. "I love them."
Satisfied that she was happy, Elladan hugged her back and took his place beside Stephanie who stepped forward and handed her gift to Courtney. "Here you go. Hope you like it." She placed a rectangular package into Courtney's hands. It was light and somewhat flat, like a book.
Courtney smiles at her friend and starts to rip into the red and gold paper. "I'll love it Steph. I know I will." She looks down to her gift and tosses the paper into a wicker waste basket that had been set beside her. In her hands she held a leather bound journal with her name in the corner. She opened it to the first page, each piece of parchment was neatly lined and the inside cover had a message written in English. God works in mysterious ways. Hey, he brought us together right? Happy Birthday! Sincerely, Steph
"I thought you might need a new journal. You said you were running out of space in your old one and this one has twice as much paper," Stephanie continued to look at Courtney, wondering if she liked the gift or not.
Courtney stood up, setting the journal on the floor beside Elladan's gift. She then wrapped her arms around Stephanie, hugging her close and tight. "Thank you so much. You know me better than I give you credit for." She smiles and sits down once more, letting Steph return to her seat in the circle beside Elladan.
Next up was Arwen, who carried a small square box, wrapped in blue paper, tied off with a silver ribbon. "This is from both Estel and I. We saw this about a month ago and it practically screamed your name at us."
"It must be special then to have screamed my name," Courtney smiles softly and watches as Arwen kneels down in front of her, much like Elladan had done earlier. She then moves her eyes to the gift, untying the ribbon and removing the paper, revealing a slender wooden box. She gently lifts the small latch, lifting the lid. Her eyes widen to the point that it almost hurt. "Oh wow," She takes a silver necklace out of the box, holding it up into the light. The chain was silver mithril and rather delicate. The charm that hung from the chain was a six pointed star, an aquamarine stone in the direct center of the star. There was a diamond on each corner of the star. It was breathtaking. Everyone in the room gave an audible gasp as it was held up.
Arwen smiled brightly. "I knew you would like it."
Courtney put the necklace back in the box and put it with her other gifts. "Saying that I like it is an understatement. I absolutely love it. Thank you." She then hugs the elven maiden, smiling as she does so. That done, she stands up and walks over to Estel, hugging him, receiving a hug in return. "Thank you to you both."
Estel smiles at her and gently touches her cheek. "Happy Birthday, mellon-nin."
She laughs softly and walks back over to her seat, patiently waiting for the next person. This time, Glorfindel stepped forward, hands behind his back, obviously shielding something from her view. He walked over to her and smiles. "Well, pen-neth, I had a hard time deciding just what to get you. Please stand up."
Courtney looked around at everyone a little nervously then focused her attention back on Glorfindel, wondering what he was up to. It was then that he brought his present out from behind his back. In his hands he held a long bow, crafted of the finest oak wood, elven script decorating the handle. In his other hand, he held a quiver of arrows, her name written in the script on the strap of the quiver. She smiles brightly.
"Glorfindel, they're wonderful. Does this mean…?"
He nods, laughing softly. "Yes it does. I'm going to teach you, though you are learning rather quickly from Elrohir and Legolas. I have a few tricks of my own to show you. What do you say?"
She takes the gifts and leans them against her chair, then wraps her arms around him, hugging him tight. "I say yes. And thank you. I'm sure it'll be interesting."
Glorfindel gently kissed her forehead then once more took his seat. Once he was seated, Erestor stepped forward, kissing her forehead like Glorfindel had done, handing her a rectangular package. "I know that you'll enjoy this."
"I'm sure I will," She smiles softly then removes the green wrapping, tossing it into the waste basket.She smiled even brighter when she read the title of the leather bound book she held in her hands. "The Tale Of Beren And Luthien." She carefully traces her finger tips over the embossed title, trying hard to contain herself. She looks up at Erestor. "You told me there weren't any spare copies you little sneak."
Erestor laughs and nods his head. "I wasn't lying. I copied this for you. I bought that book blank and re-copied the story from our copy in the library. It took a few days, but it was well worth it. You told me it was your favorite story. How could I deny you?"
Courtney shakes her head, laughing, then hugging him. "Thank you so much. I can't wait to read it tonight."
"Maybe we could read it together. I'd love for you to read to me. It's been centuries since I last heard that tale," He leaned in and gently kissed her cheek, delighting in the smile that the human girl gave him.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. I look forward to it, mellon-nin."
Once she was settled in her chair again, Courtney took another look around her, wondering who was next. It was Legolas that took a step toward her this time, a bright smile etched onto his kind and handsome face. Slowly, he approaches her and kneels down before her as the others had done, placing a small box down on her lap. It wasn't wrapped. It was beautiful just as it was.
"Legolas, what is this? You've already given me a gift. The sparring knives, remember?" She looks at him, somewhat lost, as she takes the box into the palm of her hand. It was so small.
"I saw this at the last minute. I had to get it for you because I knew that you would put it to good use. Now, stop being stubborn and please open my gift," He smiles softly at her, eagerly waiting for her to open the box. He was anxious for her reaction.
She gives him one last look and then turns her sapphire blue eyes to the small box, lifting the lid and setting it on her lap. She smiles brightly at what was inside. "Oh, Legolas. I can't accept this." In the palm of her hand she held a small blue stone hat was smooth to the touch. She held it up to the light, looking into the stone, a six pointed star appearing within the blue stone.
Legolas smiles at her and chuckles a bit. "Of course you can accept it because I give it to you. You know what this is, I am sure."
Courtney nods her head softly. "Yes. Erestor was telling me about them a few weeks ago. It's a Star Stone."
"Correct. So whenever you are lost, all you need do is gold it up to the sunlight or moonlight, and the star within will guide you to your destination," Legolas smiles brightly, watching Courtney as she examines the small stone.
Smiling, Courtney wraps her arms around his neck, embracing the Mirkwood prince tightly. "You have already given me so much, mellon-nin. Now this. I can't even begin to thank you for everything you've done for me and for my friends."
"No need, pen-vanima. All the thanks I need is your smile. And I have that now," He stands up, lightly kisses her cheek, and then sits back down.
Thranduil steps forward next, a rather pleasing smirk on his face. He held out his hand to Courtney, laughing softly when she hesitates. "My gift to you is impossible to wrap and too big to bring into the palace. Please, come with me."
Courtney looks around at everyone and then back to Thranduil, carefully placing her hand into his, letting the king pull her up from her seat to lead her out of the palace toward the stables. It was a few minutes before one of the stable hands emerged from the stables, leading a beautiful black stallion to Thranduil and Courtney, everyone else following close behind, their jaws dropped in awe and shock.
"Oh wow, Thranduil. He's, wow, amazing. But you didn't have to do this. I mean, stallions aren't exactly cheap," She reaches out to the animal, smiling when it nuzzles her hand and then her soft neck. She let's go of Thranduil's warm hand and gently pats the stallions' neck.
Thranduil gently strokes the horses' side. "I heard you were riding a rather old horse and I took it upon myself to see to it that you got a new one. He's got spirit, which reminded me of you immediately. Do you like him?"
Courtney laughs, watching as everyone else gathered around to stroke and pet the horse. "I absolutely love him. Thank you so much. But what shall I name him?"
"What about Midnight?" Estel looked over to Courtney, wondering what she thought of his suggestion.
She shakes her head politely. "That's a good idea, but it's too common."
Everyone is silent for a moment or two, thinking about what to name the stallion.
"Ithilim. That's his name."
Everyone, including the horse, looks over to Elrohir who was smiling and patting the stallions' neck. He leans in close to Courtney and kisses her lips. "Do you like that meleth-nin?"
Courtney smiles and blushes a slight bit. They didn't usually kiss in front of everyone like that. "I love that name. Moonlight. It's the perfect name for him."
One by one, they headed back into the palace. Courtney takes her seat once more, excited to ride Ithilim tomorrow morning the first chance she got.
"Now, it is my turn, pen-tithen. And I pray that you will like it," Celeborn stepped forward, kissed her cheek, and handed her a square package. It was skinny and very light.
She laughs and starts to rip the paper. "Everyone says that and I always end up loving whatever it is. Relax." She finally gets all the wrapping off of the gift, her smile widening, now ear-to-ear. "This is beautiful, Lord Celeborn. Did you do this?"
Celeborn smiled down at her, nodding his head. "I did, pen-neth."
It was a sketch of Courtney, sitting in the study writing in her journal. Everything about the drawing was perfect. It was so life-like, and on top of that, it was framed so no harm would come to it. She was at a loss for words