Chapter 20
Content to stay where she was, Natasha snuggled closer to Nigel in an attempt to get away from the cool breeze that licked at every bit of exposed skin, spreading goose bumps along her entire body. While they had been sharing memories, Natasha hadn't noticed anything, least of all a little thing like a breeze, but now as she an Nigel simply enjoyed the feeling of the other's presence within their minds, little things like that were just annoying.
Shifting closer again, Natasha felt and heard Nigel chuckle, both with her ears and in her mind. She couldn't help but smile as her irritation faded to be replaced by the joy she felt at once again having this echoing feeling within her of her brother's emotions that she'd been deprived of for the past year. Raising her head to look at him, she quickly ducked again and shook with her own laughter at what she'd just seen.
Beyond her brother, in a tree not too far away, Legolas perched on a branch with a perfect vantage point of their location. However, it was them that he was currently interested in. Actually, he appeared to be having a rather heated argument with the branch next to him, his gestures showing the extent of his own irritation, though they were fluid as always. But if one looked closer, one could see that it was actually a squirrel with whom he was arguing, who, one supposed, was putting up a good argument, given the look of frustration on Legolas' face.
You should go rescue him, Nigel chuckled at the image she shared with him. I think he's losing.
Nodding, Natasha reluctantly rose, stretched sore back muscles and dusted herself off calmly before heading over to the tree where Legolas perched. Strider stood underneath it, watching his lover with no small amount of amusement. When he saw Natasha, his face split into a grin a he pulled her over to his vantage point.
"He's been arguing with that squirrel for the past quarter of an hour."
"Nigel thought I should rescue him before he lost too badly."
"Especially seeing as how our races are supposed to be the 'superior' race." Nigel added, quoting with his fingers.
Chuckling, the three of them watched for a few moments more before Strider called up to the wood elf.
"Let it go, melethron! Natasha and Nigel are ready to go inside so we can too!"
The blonde's head whipped towards their little group so fast Natasha almost thought he would get whiplash. He uttered a hasty goodbye to the indignant squirrel and jumped from his branch, landing lightly in front of Natasha, pulling her into a hug.
"I am so happy you've found your brother once more." he said, shaking Nigel's hand as Natasha made the introductions.
"May I ask why you were arguing with that squirrel?" Natasha asked as they all walked back to the House.
"Forget that," Nigel interrupted with a laugh. "I want to know why he was losing!"
Legolas' face reddened in embarrassment as everyone laughed, but he quickly regained his composure, and holding his head high and shoulders back, he answered with all the dignity and snootiness he could muster.
"We were not arguing, we were merely discussing the possibility of her taking another route through the garden to her nest."
"He was trying to keep her away from the two of you." Strider stage-whispered to the twins, Legolas' face reddening even more as it reached his sensitive ears. "Thought she might disturb you. But really you should have seen how he dealt with the elves that were trying to get into that part of the garden. Threw pinecones at the lot of them."
This last was too much for the twins and gales of laughter echoed through the halls as they leaned first on each other, and then on the walls when that proved not enough, for support.
"You have to admit," Legolas replied, still completely dignified, when Natasha and Nigel calmed down a bit. "I did land a good one on Lord Glorfindel."
This of course, sent everyone into another round of laughter as hey continued down the corridor toward the main hall where dinner was to be served. The hobbits, who had naturally arrived first at the hall, were all ready seated and waved them over as other from the Allied races filtered through doors on all sides of the hall.
"And how have you been, my friends?" Natasha asking, taking a moment to study the recently awakened Frodo with her magical senses. He was tired and would never really recover from the wound she and Lord Elrond had laboured so hard to heal. A silver chain hung around his neck, disappearing inside his shirt, Natasha sensed the evil emanating from the One Ring that hung on the end, thankfully hidden from view.
"Lord Elrond keeps a well stocked table." Merry grinned, hugging her as best he could without leaving his seat.
High praise indeed from a hobbit Natasha mentally winked at her brother, who covered his mouth with his hand to hide his answering grin, as each of the hobbits hugged her and introduced themselves to Nigel with four at-your-services.
I like them. Nigel smiled, returning their bows with his own. I think we're going to get along.
You should. Natasha snorted. You certainly eat enough to be one of them. If not for your height, I'd say you were at least half hobbit.
Natasha received a mental raspberry for her efforts while Nigel flawlessly continued his conversation with his new friends. The dining hall was slowly filling up, the many different conversations creating a droning background to Natasha's telepathic one with Nigel. The familiar feeling of her mentor's presence pressed against her consciousness, a sort of knock on the door if you will, and she shifted her attention to Gandalf.
Lord Elrond has seated you and your brother at the head table, apprentice. If you could join us, we could start dinner. feeling and seeing her mentor huff his shoulders rather immaturely, Natasha chuckled and relayed the message to her brother.
The hobbits nodded happily as she excused them and the twins walked toward the head table where Lords Elrond and Glorfindel and Gandalf were all ready waiting. Legolas and Strider were waiting on either side of an empty chair, delighted expectant grins on their faces as she and Nigel walked up.
Gee, I wonder who those are for. Nigel elbowed his twin playfully. Ow! he swore mentally as she gave him a mental whap.
And look who's waiting for you. she replied directing his attention to where Lindir sat with an empty chair beside him.
He doesn't see me like that. Nigel protested, heading off to claim his seat before someone else tried.
Have you asked?
No. What if he says he doesn't see me like that?
Won't know if you don't ask, little brother.
I know, but not now. I'll wait a bit…HEY! I was born first!
That's not what the birth certificate says. Natasha laughed as she took her seat.
"You talking to Gandalf?" Strider asked, helping her push the seat in a bit further.
"Hmm? No, Nigel. Why?" Natasha asked confused.
"You always get this adorable little crease on your forehead when your mind-speaking with Gandalf. Guess it happens with everyone and not just crotchety old wizards." Strider explained, making Natasha snort with restrained laughter.
He should watch what he says to an Istari. Could get him turned into a tadpole. Gandalf grumped in her mind as he glared at the ranger.
Natasha broke down into a fit of giggles at the image of a tadpole Strider entered her mind, complete with sword, bow and quiver. Strider and Legolas, thinking she was merely laughing at Strider's statement, joined in the laughter, the Lord Elrond looking as though he were trying to keep from laughing at their antics.
"The crotchety old wizard just threatened to turn you into a tadpole, Strider so I'd be careful if I were you. He'll do it. Turned me into a cat once a few months ago." Natasha whispered, grinning at the memory.
"He didn't?!" Legolas exclaimed, turning to glare at the wizard.
"He did. Though I think he missed the mark. As I recall I was being a bitch, not a cat." Natasha said, playfully glaring at her mentor who shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm an old man. I forgot the spell to turn you into a dog." he replied, turning his attention back to the hall, trying to will everyone into their seats faster so they could start eating.
"The watched pot never boils, Gandalf." Natasha teased and Gandalf slumped back in his seat moodily, sticking his tongue out at her like a child that hadn't gotten his way.
"Well they should! I'm hungry!"
"Stop being a child!" Natasha laughed, seeing the twinkle in her mentor's eyes showing he wanted to play. "Look, the hobbits are behaving much better than you are and they're much, much, much, much, much…"
"Natasha…?" Gandalf warned, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Much, much younger than you are." Natasha finished with an unrepentant grin, Legolas and Strider struggling to keep their laughter in, hands over their mouths. Lord Glorfindel had joined in the grinning, Lord Elrond now sporting a full on grin.
As they'd been joking, everyone had finally taken their seats, still carrying on their conversations, though in a more muted fashion, waiting for Lord Elrond to give the order for dinner to be served. Which he did, once he was able to keep a straight face and the servants came in bearing trays of almost every dish you could imagine. Strider and Legolas made suggestions to Natasha as she considered different dishes, sometimes even putting items on her plate for her to try.
"Okay guys, that's enough." she said with a smile as they tried to put one more item on her plate. "How am I supposed to make any headway on what I've got if you keep adding to it? There's no way I'll be able to eat all this."
"You are far too skinny." Strider chided lightly. "Even Ada thinks so, don't you Ada?" the ranger asked, turning to his foster father.
At the other end of the table, Elrond nodded and waved absently in their direction, engrossed in the conversation Glorfindel and Gandalf were having.
"There, you see?" Strider grinned triumphantly. "Even he thinks so."
And he's a healer, he should know. Nigel piped up from his seat next to Lindir.
Quiet, you! Natasha scolded playfully, then rasied a questioning eyebrow. Are you even taking time to breathe?
Her brother was, of course, shovelling food into his mouth with a single minded intensity, while still managing to be polite.
'Well at least he's showing his table manners if not his charming wit.' Natasha thought shaking her head.
Why thank you, Tas. Nigel grinned impishly over the rim of his mug of ale. And I shall endeavour to display more of my charming wit after the meal. Will you join everyone in the Hall of Fire later for some singing and stories? Or perhaps you should go to bed early. You did just wake up this morning and have had an eventful day.
I'll think about it later. Natasha sighed. First I want to get through dinner.
Right. Nigel nodded from his side of the room.
"Nigel getting his opinion in?" Legolas asked softly, eyes on her twin.
"Yeah." she hummed. "A bit annoying at times, when either of us butts in like that, but I'd rather have the annoyance than not." she smiled sadly and Legolas and Strider rubbed comforting circles on her back.
The rest of the meal passed with more talk. Adventures in the Wilds, hunting spiders and orcs in Mirkwood, of Strider's wanderings through the Shire. Sooner than one would have thought, it was time to move to the Hall of Fire for more merry making. Steeping out into the cool night, Natasha too a deep breath of the fragrant air, looking up at the stars twinkling in the black velvet sky.
"Beautiful aren't they?" Legolas mused and then pointed towards the brightest star, the evening star. "You see there? That is the Silmaril shining on the head of Earendil, Lord Elrond's father, as he sails his ship through the heavens at the bidding of the Valar."
Nodding quietly, Natasha kept her opinions to herself, knowing from experience that it was a good way to get injured if she did voice them. In fact, it had been this belief, she noted with amusement, that Gandalf had tried to whap her upside the head with his staff when she'd dared to suggest the star was merely a planet similar to the one they were on that was reflecting the light of the sun. Who knows, maybe this world was truly way different and elven fathers did sail the night sk. After all, didn't she have powers that should not, at least in the eyes of science, exist?
They walked along the corridor, Strider and Legolas talking with Natasha walking between them. They reached the Hall of Fire shortly, and gazed about, looking a place for all of them to sit comfortably.
"How about we walk a bit in the gardens," Natasha suggested when it appeared that no such place was forthcoming. "I'm not really in the mood for music anyway."
"Of course." Strider said, winding her arm through his and leading her from the Hall. "There's actually a very good spot for stargazing in the gardens north of the ones you saw this afternoon."
So with Strider's arm wrapped around hers and Legolas' hand on the small of her back, Natasha allowed herself to be led, feeling the beginnings of fatigue creeping up on her, making her grateful for the chance not to have to guide herself.
Back in the Hall of Fire...
Do you sense that, mellon-nin? Lord Elrond asked Gandalf as they listened to the song Bilbo Baggins had written about Earendil, though his eyes were following the departing trio.
Indeed. Gandalf smiled around the stem of his pipe. Started in Mirkwood and getting stronger here.
I wonder what it means. the elf-lord mused, eyes taking on a distant look.
Does it have to mean anything? Gandalf asked, eyebrows raised in inquiry.
Not having an answer to that, Elrond went back to the performance before him, though half his mind still chipped away at the question running though his mind. Gandalf smiled secretively, turning back to keeping an eye on Frodo while not appearing to do so.