Hmmm. *rereads chapter* how did this get so long? Oh well. *shrugs* y'all had better be grateful! Lotsa laughs in this one. Review and enjoy!
FandomFangirl100: alright alright... Nope. It's not. And if you can't figure it out by this chapter I give up and call you as blind as Celine. XD
WoodElfJedi: oh good. Glad I made you laugh. Yes, I know, shame on me. I have read somewhat of what you've written, I believe, yes. What is Ranger's apprentice about? Sounds interesting.
Working in the gardens is appallingly difficult, for all the easiness it seems to be. Knees covered with dirt and hands muddy with pulling out weeds and deadheading other plants in need of it, I looked up for a moment to wipe my brow.
"You seem to know what to do." Nàmo said mildly, pulling out a plant.
"Yes, mom made me work in her garden- master! Not that one, that's a flower!" I said, bursting into laughter at his chagrined look as he re-planted it.
"No harm done but I think it will grow faster now." I said with a grin. He raised an eyebrow.
"And here I thought the Valar knew everything. You aired the roots, which usually is good for saplings. Makes them bear more fruit." I explained my limited knowledge of botany with a wry grin. He chuckled.
"I see. Good then. As long as she never knows it should be fine." He said blandly, while I went into another fit of laughter.
"Oh, and what makes you think that we won't tell the lady of your behavior?" Asked a Maia who clad himself in a fana with his fellow friend who was grinning.
I sent a glance to Nàmo. He gave no answer but instead just belligerently smiled. I took up some dirt and made it into a ball. And chucked it at the confused Maia. Who spluttered incoherently as Nàmo and I and his friend began to roar with laughter.
That didn't turn out to well. "I told you two to weed the garden, not get dirty and make my Maia dirty." Nienna chided us good-naturedly a few minutes later. Nàmo and I looked sheepish.
"Yes mistress." We apologized, albeit not entirely repentant. She sighed long-sufferingly and waved us off.
"Go and wash off, and go to the kitchens to help prepare dinner." She ordered. Then a gleam of amusement sparked in her eyes. "And Nàmo, none of what you did last time." She said wryly.
"I will be the model of perfection." He replied smoothly, leading me off.
"That's what you said last time, brother." Irmo called amusedly from in front of us. Elíl was giggling. I rolled my eyes at her and she grinned.
"What did you do last time exactly, master?" I asked suspiciously.
"He got bored and decided to carve the potatoes into shapes of- certain powers." Irmo replied, repressed humor in his tone. Elíl and I burst into laughter along with several embodied Maia in the hallway. Nàmo sighed.
"My apprentice will never respect me if you all insist on telling her every story that you know." He said.
"Of course not, master! I will always respect you... for being so bold." I grinned crazily and sent Irmo and Elíl into another fit. A smack to the back of my head made me grimace comically.
"Masterrrrr. You know I'll always respect you as I should." I complained.
"Don't-"
"I never whine!" I all but shrieked. Elíl had to be almost carried away as Nàmo hustled me to the kitchen lest Nienna decide that she would like to send us to the Halls of Mandos. Cheerfully.
*she said that she does* Nàmo said amusedly.
"Most likely she'd like to boot you in and slam the door." I said with a cheeky grin, projecting a mental image to him and Irmo and Nienna using my Maia skills. It was of Mandos being kicked in by the seat of his pants like a child by Nienna and her slamming the door and nodding in satisfaction, brushing her hands off as she walked away. Muffled shouts behind the door didn't help.
Nienna began to laugh in my head, and I earned another whack as we entered the kitchen, Irmo's laughter being joined by Elíl.
"What are we supposed to help with today, Miriel?" Asked Nàmo calmly while I laughed my head off. "Pay no mind to Míleth, she is insane." He added. I abruptly stopped laughing.
"Only because you drive me to it, beloved and honored master." I said solemnly, bowing to him with my hand over my heart.
The Maia in the kitchen began to laugh riotously and handed us necessary utensils after our hands were washed. "Here. Peel." One of them led me to a bucket of potatoes and I began to do so.
"Because master is not to be trusted, yes?" I asked with a devious grin. They laughed at me as Nàmo mock-glared.
"Quite. He will peel onions." Was her answer, while I sniggered at his long-suffering expression.
"Be careful master. An apprentice is supposed to follow in his master's steps." I said gravely, peeling the potatoes with comical levity.
Nàmo gave the Maia a droll look. "You know that I was pressured into taking her by Manwë, yes?" He asked. I gave him a stricken expression while they watched with wide smiles.
"Don't fib, master! You yourself said you chose Elíl and I to come." I said pitifully. His lips twitched in reply.
"But I may not have intended you for myself." He answered, peeling onions.
"Oh so that's the way of it, is it? I see it now." I replied dryly. "I feel so wanted." Sarcasm oozed, and the Maia laughed heartily at me expense. "And pitied." The comment didn't help my cause, anyway.
I gave the rest of the potatoes a dubious look. "Being a Maia has its perks." I muttered to myself, reaching for the last of the potatoes. I was already almost done.
"What was it like to live as a human?" A Maia asked suddenly. I grinned up at her.
"Interesting, to say the least. The reason I'm so young in attitude is because I was only fourteen, four years from coming of age before I came here. As I traveled, I grew older." I answered. She nodded.
*To answer your question, you are approximately one thousand and six hundred years old.* Nàmo said, making me nod thoughtfully. In all reality, I was probably the youngest besides Elíl of the Maia.
"Mistress Nienna requires you both to serve tonight." After our kitchen duty was over a Maia approached us. Nàmo nodded and led me away.
Finally, dressed in a simple, deep blue tabard with golden embroidery and the device of Nienna, a harp with a teardrop shape above it, on it, we were ready to serve.
"All you have to do is follow me and set out the table and dishes." Nàmo instructed. I nodded a bit nervously.
"It is the 'seen and not heard' mentality, right master?" I asked. He nodded.
"Master?" I asked thoughtfully, thinking about the day's events.
"Yes, Míleth?" He answered gently. I looked up at him as he looked back with wisdom shining from his obsidian eyes.
"Today- why did you do all of these things? You are a Vala." I said, gesturing to our tunics. "I can understand why I have to, because I must learn and obey, but why you master?" I asked.
He chuckled. "As you said, Míleth, an apprentice follows in the steps of the master. Perhaps you are right in that I do not have to, but I do them in love for my sister. No task done in love is too menial for anyone, Vala or otherwise. And I wish to show you and all those under my guidance that I am not above such things." He answered softly, placing a hand on my shoulder warmly.
I nodded thoughtfully. "So you set an example." I said more to myself then anyone. "As a parent to their child."
"Very well learned, my child." He said approvingly. I blushed in delight with the praise. "Now come, we must serve." He said with a slight smile. And I was given a tray to carry out to the table.
Silently, I followed my master out- and nearly tripped over my own feet. As it was, I pressed my lips together tightly and righted myself calmly to keep from doing anything odd. Besides Nienna and Irmo and Elíl, there was also Oromë at the table, along with King Arafinwë and his son- Prince Findécano. I was in shock, but composed myself.
Nearing the table, I briefly met Elíl's eyes and they widened slightly. I gave her a brief grin, but then smoothed it out and politely placed the dish on the table. Then I went to get more. Nàmo gave me a decanter, and I gave him an almost panicked look. He chuckled.
"Just pour into their cups normally, Míleth." He said soothingly. I nodded, relieved, and went out and did as he said.
*you serve?* Elíl's voice in my head made me almost start, but I managed not to spill.
*for the day. What did you learn today?* I moved on to the next cup.
*that no book should be judged by its cover, literally and figuratively* she answered thoughtfully. *you?*
Again, l moved on. *that no task done in love is too menial* I answered contemplatively. We mused together as I moved to the last cup.
"What is your name?" Prince Finrod's voice made me look up, a bit startled. I had the table's attention. I gave a brief bow from the waist.
"Míleth, Prince." I answered softly, and a bit hesitantly.
"You are one who was once a human." His voice held interest, but not contempt. I then remembered. Of course. He was the first to have met the men of his kindred and people. A small smile flitted across my face.
"It is as you say, my lord." As a Maia, I found that my language around others had developed a little according to protocol. It was natural.
"I would like to speak with you later, if lord Nàmo would permit it." He said, looking to said Vala, who merely nodded. I again bowed silently, and left the table to stand by my master, decanter held ready at hand.
*think it away to the kitchen* he directed. It disappeared from my hands. *good*
And Elíl was questioned interestedly by the prince as conversation went on. I thought, eyes blankly staring at nothing but still aware enough to know if I was needed in any way.
"Yes, my sister is rather insane." Elíl made the comment somewhat off-handedly. My lips thinned, but not in affront, only amusement. "Ow! Sorry." She said sheepishly after being mentally whacked by Irmo. But the prince and King were chuckling. Everyone at the table looked to me expectantly.
I smiled wryly. "I'm afraid my sister knows me well... As well as she knows that there is such a thing as blackmail among the Maia." I added smoothly, making them burst into hearty laughter at Elíl's expense.
...
Mairon appeared next to me to my surprise as I cleaned up my hands and attempted to change back to my apprentice's robes.
"Mairon! How's my favorite Maia doing?" I asked, hugging him tightly and walking out of the storage room with him hand-in-hand.
"Fine. I played with the other feä in the halls of Mandos today." He said promptly. I grinned and nodded.
"Good. Now, will you come with me to meet Prince Finrod, late King of Nagothrond?" I asked, idly using his title to see how it sounded. He nodded.
"Okay!" We walked in silence to the library, where I could sense with my consciousness that the prince was waiting.
Mairon stopped in front of the door and tugged on my sleeve, making me turn to look at him. He held out his arms pleadingly, and I gave a sigh accompanied by an indulgent smile as I picked him up and settled him on my hip. I opened the doors and closed them behind me, and turned to bow to the occupants of the room.
"Celine!" A surprised voice greeted me. I straightened to see, to my surprise, Glorfindel sitting next to Finrod and talking with him and King Arafinwë. I gave a bright smile.
"Glorfindel! It's good to see you, Glorfy! Lords Arafinwë, Finrod." I said with a dip of the head.
Finrod looked surprised. "You know her, Gwador? Celine is not the name I was introduced to." He said, sounding confused. I sat in the chair that I was waved into by Arafinwë and thought a hairbrush to my hand, using it to brush through Mairon's hair while he sat on my lap.
"Yes, as I told you about being sent down to earth, I stayed at her house." Glorfindel replied, giving me a droll look. I burst into laughter.
"And made a bad lasting impression, I'm sure." I snickered. "As for my name, my lord, my master Nàmo gave me the name Míleth when I took the oath of apprenticeship." I replied with a smile.
"Yes, well, it doesn't help that you were clad in nothing but a shift." Glorfindel retorted. I sighed.
"Glorfy, how many times must I tell you it was a swimsuit." I said with exaggerated patience. He snorted.
"And don't call me by that despicable name." He growled, yanking on a strand of my hair. I smirked.
"Alright then, Glory." I said, while Mairon burst into sniggering.
Finrod snorted. "It seems as though I've found a partner in crime against you, Glorfindel." He said amusedly.
"Hmmm, you'll have to stand in line, I'm afraid. There's already Nàmo and my little brother and sister- need I mention Amrod and Amras, my adopted brothers?" I asked blithely, kissing Mairon's cheek fondly.
"Excuse me?" Arafinwë looked floored.
"Glory! Don't tell me you didn't tell them about my adoption as a Feänorian!" I said, appalled. He rolled his eyes.
"Míleth, you are impossibly insane." He retorted. I grinned.
"It's inherited from my family. I mean, like I said, there's the insane creator of the Silmarils, and my little brother Mairon..." I said vaguely, waving my hand.
He shook his head at me while Finrod laughed heartily at my description. "Besides, you know you love me anyway for it, despite that you said that you liked me better sane when I was spouting nonsense." I said with a wink.
I didn't notice that he had turned pale and then red. "Yes, well, at least you made sense then." He said. Finrod raised an eyebrow at his friend, who have him a glare.
"What did you do as a human?" Arafinwë suddenly placed himself in the conversation.
I looked up, then gave a rueful smile. "I know that that is what you intended to ask of me, but I will warn you that culture in my world is different from here, so my life was different." I warned fairly. Finrod nodded.
"I understand that, but mortality is still common here and there." He reasoned. I smiled.
"Oh yes. And I will also warn you that I am a very lighthearted person. Findel can attest to that... I was actually fourteen, four years from coming of age before I came here. Through the travel, however, I have become older. One thousand and six hundred, to be exact, though I have a feeling that Maia age differs from elvish." I said thoughtfully.
"You never told me that." Finrod addressed Glorfindel, who did not answer. "Interesting. What did you do?" He turned back to me.
"Well, I-"
"Made lots of fun. Went to a boring thing called school to learn things and music school." Mairon interjected.
"Yes, thank you, that about sums it up, little brother mine." I said dryly, as Glorfindel and Finrod began to laugh.
"And what about other pastimes?" Arafinwë asked.
"Dancing. Singing. Being with friends. Swimming. Writing and reading." I ticked a few off.
"Truly mortals have their plates full." Finrod shook his head as I smiled amusedly.
"That is true. But I said I did these things for fun, not in seriousness." I reminded.
"And what is it like to be a Maia?" Finrod asked interestedly. I grinned.
"I would have thought you would have asked your aunt Melian that." I said with a smirk. He raised an eyebrow.
"My sister in the thought of Eru, Elíl, is apprentice to Irmo." I explained. He nodded.
"I have, but never from an apprentice to Nàmo." He looked a bit hesitant, as though he wondered if he didn't want to know. My lips twitched.
"It all depends." I drawled. "I don't learn torture or how to frighten you to death or how to pronounce doom in the most effective way possible, if you are wondering." I said, eyes glinting in amusement. They burst into laughter.
"But seriously, what I do learn is how to be more like my name and how to use that in the best way possible." I said more seriously.
"My duties consist of doing whatever my master may tell me, and also in helping the feä in his halls to heal so that they may be reborn." I said with a smile. "As opposed to the once born..." I gave Glorfindel a glance as they laughed.
"Fountains." He dead-panned, which set Finrod and I off on a laughing fit.
"Oh poor Elíl." I sighed, wiping away my tears.
"You kept threatening to tell everyone her favorite elf. Who is it?" Glorfindel asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow at me. I gave him a grin.
"I'll tell only if it doesn't leave this room." I bartered. He nodded solemnly, as did Finrod. Mairon nodded too.
"The very elf that is head-over-heels for her." I said with a wink. They stared, and then burst into laughter.
"And you?" Finrod gave me a coy look.
"Certainly not you." I sniffed, raising my nose. He took no offense, choosing laughter instead. I grinned.
"If it tells you anything, I'll give you a snippet of conversation between Nàmo and Eonwë and I. Eonwë asks my master, 'where did you find her, Nàmo?' And my dear master answers, 'I found her reading the Silmarillion, as it is called, crying over the lack of Glorfindel and Ecthelion and laughing over the death of Feänor and capture of the Silmarils.'" I finished with a satisfied smile.
Finrod was leaning back in his chair laughing to the point of tears while Glorfindel looked stunned. "Oh I'm sorry, Glordel, I didn't mean to embarrass you." I said, patting his arm. He gave me almost a shy look.
"Why me and Thel?" He asked abruptly. I smiled.
"Who can tell? Ecthelion because to me he is not only a hero for killing Gothmog, but also because of the part that his sword played in the third age- and also because he is admirable, and I also like him for who he is. You because I admire your selflessness and love for your people, and your devotion to Turgon and his heirs. And your part in the war of the ring. What else? And your humor..." I trailed of with a wide grin.
He grinned back as Finrod calmed down from my last comment. "I didn't know that lord Nàmo could be so-" Arafinwë said.
"Humorous? All of the reborn know that." Glorfindel said dryly.
"Is it true that Glorfindel used to whine?" I suddenly asked.
Finrod started doubling over in laughter. "I don't whine!" Glorfindel shouted.
"Welcome to the club." I said ironically, raising an eyebrow at him.
Elíl suddenly walked in. "Hey! Mind if I drop by?" She asked. We nodded and she sat.
"What's so funny?" She asked. I started laughing too. So for the rest of that time we exchanged funny things that had been happening to us all. By the time I thought myself back to my room, Mairon asleep in my arms, I had been dubbed 'sister' by Finrod, as had Elíl.
Nàmo appeared as I crawled into bed. "Did you have a good day, little one?" He asked, sitting beside the bed and stroking my hair. I nodded, a sleepy smile on my face.
"Yes master, I did." I said.
"Good." He murmured, and began to sing a soft lullaby. Before I knew it, I had drifted off to the soothing path of dreams, where I spent time relaxing with Elíl until it was time to wake up.
...
"Wake up, Míleth! Nàmo wants you to take me to the others so I can play!" Mairon woke me up by squealing into my ear.
I snapped awake and sat up with a yawn, rubbing my eyes and giving him a bleary look. "Alright." I mumbled, jacking myself out of bed and stumbling to the washbasin to wash off my face and wake up.
By the time I was dressed, Mairon had made my bed for me and I went to the jewelry box. I chose for the day a pair of bracelets that were tight on my wrists and had a simple design of light blue gemstones in a complicated but pretty setting of intertwined gold.
"That's funny, all of those were my pieces." Marion noted, peering into the box.
"Well good. I want them all to be." I said, and swung him up and headed through the halls. "So who are you going to play with today, little brother?" I asked, walking to the special room I knew to go to.
"The other elflings who died." He answered. I sighed. The kinslayings at Alqualonde had taken the lives of many children of the firstborn. Sad.
"Good. I'm sure that they enjoy your company." I answered softly, kissing his cheek. He returned it promptly, to my delight.
*your duty today will be to keep watch over the elflings' feä and Mairon. The others will help you to learn more.* Nàmo spoke even as I walked into the room. I nodded.
*yes master, will do.* I answered, and set Mairon down so he could go play with the others. He gave me a grin and ran off.
"Welcome, Míleth. Come." Another Maia beckoned to me. I followed, and soon found myself watching the elflings greet Mairon and begin to play catch-me together.
"Those two are Eluríd and his twin." She told me softly, pointing. A pang went through me.
"That's sad, to know that they died so young." I murmured. She nodded.
"Lord Nàmo wants to know if you would like to work with them." She stated. I sat and watched, thinking.
I finally answered. "That's not my forte. I prefer to work with those who are broken and in need of the knowledge that they are forgiven and loved. Those who need self-confidence and a reason to heal. Like my brothers." I finally answered softly. "I love Mairon, but he is my little brother." I added.
She nodded. "Understandable. Help me here, and then I am sure he will give you your next task." She said, and I stood to help.
The elflings had collapsed in a heap from exhaustion, and I now needed to help untangle their feä and set them into bed. Mairon was sent to another room and another group of feä.
*well done, Míleth. You may go visit your brothers.* Nàmo said.
*yes master. Thank you.* I answered, and promptly went off.
*try not to get into too much trouble* he added wryly.
*master, you're the one who's not setting a good example if I do. After all, didn't you tell me last night that you played catch-me among the stars with Irmo at the beginning of Arda?* I answered smugly.
He gave me a mental whack. *ow! And I don't whine!*
A burst of laughter let me know that the rest of the Valar were listening in on the conversation. *Lady Nienna, he pulled out your flow-* a mental gag made me snort and say muffled words instead of finishing.
*I claim non association with whatever she says* Nàmo said smoothly.
*somehow I find myself not believing that* Manwë said dryly. Nienna was laughing.
I sent a mental image of my master pushing me behind his back with a gag on my mouth and a halo over his head. But uprooted flowers also were clutched behind his back. A roar of laughter accompanied a sharp smack to my mind.
*She should have been yours, Tulkas, with her sense of humor.* Nàmo said sourly. I was sniggering.
*oh no, she is much better suited to you. Besides, she doesn't need to know warfare. She can act so maniacally that Melkor would politely turn down an offer to be paid to take her. Orcs and Balrogs would flee from her insane look.* Tulkas chortled. Another burst of laughter accompanied that.
*she has her own warrior anyway* I heard Vána sigh dreamily. I pulled the gag off.
*excuse me? Is there something I'm missing here?* I demanded suspiciously.
*oh don't worry child, you'll finally get it in time. Not that you've paid any attentions to the clear signs already.* Varda muttered.
*eh?* I was bewildered.
*oh go on, errant Padawan mine.* Nàmo gave me a mental shove.
*I'm really going insane now. I heard Nàmo call someone a Padawan. Eru help me, I repent for all of my misdeeds, bring me back to sanity!* I wailed. Eonwë appeared in the hallway and began to write in his book.
*I wonder if Atto will answer that one.* Irmo said thoughtfully.
*Kriffing Sith chizzk nine Corellian karking Sith-spawned hells! Eonwë, get out of my way before you make someone else crack their heads on your blasted book!* I shrieked. Eonwë rolled his eyes and left as the Valar burst into laughter again.
*perfect for each other.* Vairë giggled.
*He was very much the same... If not worse...* Nàmo groaned.
*its rude to talk about secrets when the person it's about is around.* I said dryly.
*oh go on, impossible child. You are humorously insolent one moment and the model of propriety the next. I can't keep up.* Manwë muttered.
...*ill take that as a strange compliment.*
The roar of laughter that greeted my comment along with Manwë's sigh was enough to make me practically skip down the hall to my destination.