here's the next chapter! Thank you for all of the faves, follows and reviews!
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Chapter 6
Back at home, finally. "Mom! We're back!" I hollered into the kitchen once we got back. She poked her head out of the doorway.
"Good! Everyone safe?" She asked.
"Yes!" Lark answered for everyone.
"That's funny, I don't remember ever having that many mattresses and blankets before." I noted as we all gathered in my room. There was a pile of them scattered around the room and already set with blankets and everything. I shrugged.
"Mom must have had them somewhere. Okay, everyone pick a spot! I call middle!" I yelled, and tossed Marion onto the pallet in the middle of the room. Jumping after him onto the air mattress, he flew up a few inches and came back down while I laughed and he shrieked.
"I call shotgun!" Lark flopped onto the pallet nearest the door and whipped out her phone. The other elves looked at each other and agreed that we were crazy, then made their way about the room between beds and chose their spots.
I was surrounded by three pallets, one of which was chosen by Caranthir, Maedhros got the bed as oldest (lucky, as Lark said), Fingon chose the one next to the bed, and Maglor and Maeglin chose the ones next to Lark. There were two left, for the next elves supposedly coming tomorrow, I guessed.
I tiptoed through the land mine of bouncy air mattresses and made my way to my dresser for my pjs. Lark had stopped by home and had her duffel bag by the door. I hadn't forgotten about pajamas, and had made sure to buy all of the elves a pair of those and socks as well.
"I'm going to change! Be back in a few!" I hollered and slipped out the door. After changing I padded down to the closet of games and dragged out a few strategy games and card decks, then went back in for Lark to pop out for her turn. I dumped the stuff on the floor.
"After everyone gets dressed we'll have some fun." I said, then tossed out hairbrushes. "You'd better appreciate it." I snickered, and keeping one for myself, scooped up Mairon and took him to my parents room where he changed and I waited outside the door.
Then I brought him back to my room to see that Lark had finished and Caranthir had called next. I sat down with Mairon while Lark shuffled through the games, and the elves waited their turns and brushed hair, to my immense amusement. I knew that that was their weak point.
I pulled Mairon into my lap as he played with his ring (which had made my mom terrified for a moment), and gently brushed through his reddish/golden hair, remembering what Mandos had said.
Finally I had gotten all of the snarls out and was brushing my hair when the elves were finally done. "Okay, game time! What should be first, Celine?" Lark asked me. I shrugged.
"Ask our elves. They can pick." I replied.
"Our elves." Lark snorted. "I don't ever remember owning one before."
"Well, I didn't say we owned them. It's not like they're plushy toys, I meant that they live with us so they're family. Least aways, several of them are my family. You have your own." I replied. The elves looked annoyed.
"We are right here and listening to you." Maeglin pointed out pointedly. Literally. He poked Lark, who poked him right back.
"I know, big brother, and quit poking me. You need to learn a little thing called 'sibling manners.'" She said sweetly. He glared at her while the rest of us snickered. Mairon tugged my sleeve.
"What are we playing?" He reminded. I grabbed him and laid down on my stomach, using his lap as a chin-rest.
"Good question, Mairon, ask the elves." I retorted, motioning to the stack of games. Lark shuffled through them. Then she grinned at me.
"Battleship? Really?" She snickered. I rolled my eyes.
"Give it here, and let me play it with Caranthir. Marion can be on my team- he should be good at it." I replied with a smirk. She giggled.
"Ooh, I get to play cards with the rest of us! Egyptian cards!" She called, motioning for the elves, who settled around her resignedly.
"You mean Haradrim cards!" I replied, dragging Caranthir over to me with Battleship. For the next two hours we played games. After Mairon and I won (haha burn, I have Sauron on my team), we joined cards and had a blast.
Even the elves got into it, arguing over who had gotten the cards first. Lark and I grinned at each other and just allowed them to settle it for themselves. Mairon just watched and at times acted as judge. After we got bored of that, we played one game of rummikub and decided to retire- oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Maglor won cards and Maeglin won rummikub.
I grabbed Mairon and tucked him tightly into bed next to me, and he snuggled into me, grasping his ring in his other hand. "Aww, that's cute." Lark teased. I stuck out my tongue at her.
"You're just jealous." I teased back, to which she just grinned.
"Good night, brother elves!" Lark called, then flicked the light off. The room fell into blackness. I suddenly burst into laughter.
"I forgot that we don't need night lights, Lark!" I laughed. The elves glowed. Their faces looked a little sheepish as Lark and I howled at them.
"Anybody know a scary stor-" Lark started.
"No! Last time you told me a scary story I woke up in the middle of the night screaming 'Morgoth is after me!' I'm not going through that again!" I protested.
She grumbled. "Spoil sport."
"Speak for yourself. It's scary enough living with two dark elves under my roof IN MY ROOM." I huffed. Said elves snorted. "Hush you two." I warned. They hushed. The threat of the void loomed. There was a comfortable silence after several good nights were exchanged.
"Now I'm scared that the void will come and swallow me in the night." Lark noted, staring up at the ceiling. I sighed.
"Sleep." I moaned. Silence. I was just about to drift off.
"Celine? I'm thirsty."
...
I woke up and opened bleary eyes to see a sleeping Mairon in front of my face. For a moment I was terrified, and then remembered where I was. I let out a sigh of relief. It's one thing to wake up in the morning, and another to wake up staring into the face of Sauron. Except he's not anymore. Whatever.
Then I bolted straight up with a muffled shriek. The elves, who had obviously just woken up several minutes ago, looked to me. Lark turned over, still sleeping.
"No! I forgot that I was supposed to go to Kat's house! I need to tell her I can't- I forgot that I'm supposed to get two more elves today!" I moaned, and flopped over onto my stomach with one arm flung around Mairon, who was still asleep.
Lark suddenly sat up with her eyes still closed. "Doughnuts. Coffee. Need elf pie- spiders- Mirkwood- Legolas-" she fell back into bed while I muffled laughter. I finally sat up and cupped my hands in her direction as the elves sniggered.
"LARK!"
She let out a muffled shriek like I had and fell off of the pallet with a 'thump.' The elves roared along with me. She popped up rubbing her back and glared at me sleepily. Mairon sat up next to me, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Is it time to eat yet?" He mumbled. "I need to feed the Balrogs-" he yawned and stretched while I grinned. The elves stopped laughing.
"Yeah, let's go feed Gothmog some Ecthelion." I snickered. "He'll have a handful dealing with that."
"Talk about it. A fountain filled with water to wash him down with too." Lark joked weakly. I rolled my eyes.
"Bad joke, Lark. Okay, who wants breakfast?" I asked with a yawn.
"What is for breakfast?" Fingon asked lazily.
"Doughnuts that Caranthir asked about yesterday, toast with jam or butter, and milk, coffee, or hot chocolate for a drink." I replied, picking up Mairon and staggering to the door.
Lark and everyone else followed in various stages of alertness, and made their way into the kitchen. Lark made toast while I set the table and put out the drinks and doughnuts, just as mom came down.
"Good morning. Celine, I'm going out today to meet-"
"Yes Mom." I mumbled, stumbling over to the fridge. "I'll go out and get some groceries today. Do you need anything?" I added.
She tossed a list onto the table. "Thank you." She said. I stared blankly at the piece of paper, and shook my head.
"Always taking advantage of poor me. I cancelled my appointment with Kat today." I informed. She nodded and headed out the door.
"Have a good day!" The door closed as Lark finished the toast. Just then, I tripped over a chair leg and stubbed my toe hard.
"Kriffing Sith chizzk nine Corellian karking hells!" I yelped, sitting down hard on my chair and rubbing my poor bruised abused toe with a wince.
"Celine! Don't say that in front of Mairon!" Lark gasped exaggeratedly, trying not to laugh. I glared.
"Doesn't matter, it's the wrong fandom anyway." I growled. She just smirked in reply.
I finally stopped muttering about my feet and went back to eating a doughnut. Lark and I exchanged glances as the elves tried.
"Thith ith goot." Mairon said happily through a mouthful of crumbs. Lark and I burst out laughing at him.
"I never thought I would, but for once I agree." Fingon chipped in, taking another bite.
"Quite a sweet taste." Maedhros mused, looking at it.
"Well, since Caranthir wanted to know what they were, how does he like it?" Lark asked.
"It's fine." Was his only answer. I rolled my eyes.
"Always vague, that one. Hazy." I snorted. Lark sniggered. "Touched, perhaps."
She choked on her toast. "You'd better be glad that Feänor isn't here to hear you!"
"Well duh. He was touched first." I grinned. She went into a coughing fit to cover her laughter.
I opened my mouth to speak when Mairon tugged my arm. "Eh?" I asked, turning to him.
"Where are we going today?" He asked, chewing on his doughnut. I pursed my lips and looked out the window.
"Lark, I think we should go to the mall, get the groceries, show our brothers the concept of a public transportation bus back home, and then spend the rest of the day at the pool at your house. Sound good?" I checked in with her. She nodded.
"Mmhmm. Mmph." She agreed.
"Whatever that means, I'll take it as a yes." I said dryly, and placed my plate in the dishwasher. She grumbled.
"Okay, once everyone's done get dressed and ready to leave!" I called, halfway up the stairs. I didn't even notice until I was already in my room that Marion had followed me.
...
"So, what's first on the list, Maglor?" I asked. Lark had given it to him for safekeeping. He took it out and read the first item.
"Eggs." He answered.
"Wait!" Lark took the list and ripped it in half. "Here, Celine, you take this half and go with your brothers, while I take the other. We meet at the front counter number seven, 'Kay?" She asked. I nodded and we split up.
After a few detours for the satisfaction of curiosity, we finally got all of the things on the list. I dragged them all to the snacks section. "We might as well get some stuff for a pool party while we're here." I reason with a grin. I texted Lark to get a bunch of cans of soda and whatever other drinks she wanted.
Five huge bags of nachos, three large bags of chocolate mints, and myriads of other smaller snacks later, we were finally ready to leave. Of course, Mairon had chosen to try the red-hot tamales, which I had dubiously bought, hoping he wouldn't breathe fire. We met Lark and the others by the counter and began to check out, just as my phone blipped.
Why? Something went wrong? -Kat
I texted back.
Yeah, my big bros came home so I'm a little busy. -Celine
The line moved a little more.
Oh. How about if I come over there then? -Kat.
We made it to the counter and I handed Lark the wallet.
Sorry, but I've got a rather busy schedule with them today. -Celine
"Hey! How are y'all?" The checkout lady asked, beginning the process.
Okay. Hope you have a great time then. -Kat
Thx. -Celine
"Fine, thank you." Maedhros answered to my absent poke. I looked up just as the lady did, and hissed under my breath. Oh snap. She was twenty by the looks of it. Lark gave me a horrified look which I returned.
"Yep, we're doing great! Hey big brothers, can you get the bags for us? I think mom's waiting." I hastily interjected. They gave me funny looks, but sensing my anxiety, did as was bidden. Well, except for Mairon, who was on my hip again after getting rid of the cart.
"Your brothers are tall." Ashley, according to her tag, said, glancing at them.
"Yep. Well, actually two of them are Lark's brothers, but we're all but sisters, so we're like one big family." I agreed. Lark nodded.
"The redhead, his eyes are silver." She noted. I rolled my eyes at Lark. So detailed.
"It's amazing what kind of colors contacts they have these days." Lark answered.
"Yep. You're little brother there has a pretty cool pair." She noted, smiling at Mairon. His returning smile was a little more predatory, to my amusement.
"Hmm." I made a noncommittal sound in reply. Then we booked it as fast as we could. The bus had never been so welcome. It was sweltering outside.
"Dong it, this is another time I wish I were an elfling again." I muttered as we climbed into seats. Lark groaned in agreement. The elves weren't hot, of course. Bloody immortals. Literally, if you care to think about the kinslayings- never mind. I don't.
"Interesting contraption." Maeglin was surveying the bus and muttering to himself. Lark and I just exchanged glances.
We finally got off of the bus and I raced Lark and Mairon home. Lark won. I pouted. Mairon just grabbed my hand. The elves rolled their eyes at our ridiculousness.
"Okay Lark, take your swimsuit and your brothers and get the icebox at your house ready with the drinks, while the rest of us get ready and the other snacks. We'll meet in say thirty minutes." I called as my brothers helped me put away all of the stuff.
"What about sunblock? Do you need any?" Lark answered from the door.
"Nope! I've got enough!" I replied. The door shut and we got ready to leave.
Thirty minutes later saw all of us at the pool side, Lark and I trying to put sunblock on Mairon while he whined about it.
"Oh come on, Mairon, for me? Please?" I begged. He stopped and gave me a calculating gaze. I gave him a huge hug. "Pleaseeee?" I asked, cuddling him. He sighed.
"Oh fine." He muttered. I grinned.
"Thank you!" I finished while the elves stared. "Don't stare, it's rude." I scolded. They just rolled their eyes and resumed talking among themselves.
I pulled off my shirt and wriggled out of my shorts to show the swimsuit underneath, and then stretched, warming up.
"What are you doing!?" Maedhros' scandalized voice made me look towards a bunch of blushing elves. Oh. I forgot.
"Geez, guys, I'm sorry. I forgot that you don't know our culture- we go swimming in these outfits. It's okay to look. Guys always go swimming with nothing but the pants you guys have on now and no shirt either. Besides, we're siblings, remember?" I added, rolling my eyes. Lark was laughing at the embarrassed elves. Marion decided to take a leap into the pool.
"Ahhhh! You got me wet!" Lark shrieked, and then jumped after him. "Come back here you little brat! I'm going to make you pay!" And she chased after him while he shrieked and tried to get away.
Maedhros was buried in the Quenta Silmarillion, Maeglin was using my iPod and sipping a soda, Fingon was debating wether or not to get in, Maglor was tuning his harp, and Caranthir had snitched his brother's shades and was currently trying to decide on what drink to pull out of the icebox.
Just as I was about to join the two in the cool water, I was suddenly knocked down onto the concrete by something landing on top of me. Dizzy from the fall, I groaned and shook my head, wheezing. Something was on top of me and crushing all of the air out of me.
"Oh! Forgive me, my lady, I didn't mean-" there was a choke and the weight lifted off of me. I blinked and sat up with a wince.
"What was that?" I rasped, then looked up- to see someone's back turned to me, dressed in white and yellow robes. And long, golden hair. Rich, molten gold. I froze. Lark squealed.
"Look Celine, it's Ecthelion and Glorfindel!" She shrieked. I leaped up and darted to the front of the figure and snatched the white envelope out of his hands.
Celine-
Here are the other two elves. If you need anything just ask. Have fun!
Mandos
P.S. I forgot, in two days you and Lark will be given a choice. Decide carefully.
I looked up at the golden-haired elf and saw sapphire eyes fastened onto my duel-colored ones. His own widened and his gaze flicked to my hair and stayed there, looking embarrassed.
I sighed. "Hello, Lord Glorfindel. It's okay to look. I'm dressed this way on purpose to go swimming. You might want to ask the Feänorians over there about where you are." I shoved him over there and turned to Ecthelion. "Same to you!" Then Lark grabbed the note out of my hands and scanned it over.
The two Gondolinions had taken my advice and Maedhros was waving the book about, explaining. I groaned. "Seriously. More elves." I sighed.
She giggled. "Hey, at least it's your fave elf ever." She comforted.
"Ummm, elven hearing much? While you're jabbing me, what about you? Who's your fave elf here?" I reminded subtly. She blushed furiously and punched my shoulder.
I sniggered and took a flying leap. "CANNONBALL!" I shrieked, and jumped into the pool. I resurfaced with a gasp just in time to hear Ecthelion's voice.
"Water, not the water!" He cringed. Lark and I were bent over double laughing, while Marion climbed onto my shoulders and sniggered.
"Gothmog!" He shouted at the top of his voice. Lark and I were howling. Ecthelion yelped and then glared.
"You- wait, is that who I think it is!?"
"Yes and no! It's Mairon, not Sauron, and my little brother!" I yelled back. Both elves had the O_O face. I interrupted by dunking the Maia into the water, to which he squealed and plashed me with water.
"Water, hmm?" Glorfindel teased his friend.
"Balrog, I TOLD you that you should have tied up your hair that day." Ecthelion retorted.
"Hush up, Thel, you're the one who drowned in your OWN flaming fountain." Glorfindel snarked back. I was screaming in laughter.
"Tell him, Glorfy!" I yelled. The other elves burst into laughter along with Lark at Glorfindel's face as he pinned me with a horrified look.
"But I thought I'd escaped that nickname..." He moaned. The rest were doubled over laughing.
"Hey, Ecthelion, where's your helmet? I always thought that Helms Deep was named after it." Lark noted. I expired with amusement.
"Are you implying that my head was large?" Ecthelion asked, sounding unamused.
"No. Merely saying that the helmet was tall." She said sweetly. That one successfully managed to knock the remaining wind out of me. Thank goodness that Mairon knew how to drag me to the stairs.