'He is an Elf-lord of a house of princes.'
JRR Tolkien, 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
.~.~.~.~.
1314
Lalwen and Anairë were sitting out in the garden, in a shady bower covered with climbing roses. Anairë was doing her needlework, mending something, Lalwen knew not what; Nolofinwë's socks probably. As if they had no servants! Lalwen herself had no taste for such things, because no patience to do them well. She was skipping through the dull parts of a book of poetry.
For the fourth or fifth time, Lalwen rearranged her position on the wicker seat with a loud creak. Anairë's eyes flashed fire.
"Must you keep doing that?"
"Sorry, dear! I didn't notice you there. That must be because you were sitting so nice and still."
Lalwen's smile was a flash of brilliant light. She drew up her legs and sat hugging them, like a little girl.
Anairë bent her head to her work. She did not look up when she heard Lalwen putting down her book.
"Don't be cross with me, darling."
Anairë made a sort of gesture with her shoulders that might have meant anything.
Lalwen continued: "And where is dear Turukáno on this bright and hopeful Day?"
"Indoors," Anairë said. "Findaráto and Laurefindë came around to play."
"On their own? And Laurefindë two Years behind our Turukáno!"
Anairë did not reply. She and Lalwen were embroiled in an epic dispute on the subject of her fourteen-Year-old son Turukáno. Anairë refused to let him go about the streets of Tirion without one of his family or a servant. Lalwen - of course - supported him against her. It was only a matter of time before Nolofinwë gave in to his sister.
Findaráto was the firstborn of Arafinwë and Eärwen, exactly the same age as Turukáno. Laurefindë was the son of Ilmarien and Calatindil, a rather delicate child who had inherited his mother's golden hair.
"Ilmarien may do what she will with her own son. It is mine to care for mine."
"What about Eärwen?"
"Eärwen is too trusting and goodhearted for her own good."
Lalwen shifted her position again, so that she was half-lying across the chair with her legs dangling over one of the arms. Her white dress had ridden up over her knees. She looked more like a child than ever.
