okay, yes, I know, I've been neglecting this... Sorry. But anyway, here's another chapter for you! Dedicated to WoodElfJedi, who has been barking at me about it... Get it? BARKing? Wood elf? Never mind me, my brain's fried. Meh. Review? *puppy dog look*

Chapter 18

It is morning, and I am currently hopping into my apprentice's tabard as fast as I can... Because today is going to be an undoubtedly busy day. I am staying at Glorfindel and Ecthelion's house with Elíl if you remember, so after dressing I hurried downstairs to find Elíl the only other one awake.

"Sleep well?" She asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"Hmm." She nodded.

We had a quick meal and left Glorfy and Thel a note on the table along with breakfast for them.

"See you later?" Elíl asked. I grinned.

"Without a doubt..." We both thought ourselves away with a laugh. I arrived at the Mahanaxàr, otherwise known as the ring of doom, to find that the Valar were already there. I bowed to them all and took my place next to Nàmo's throne.

*good morning, master.* I sent politely.

*good morning, Míleth.* he replied, just as Manwë spoke.

"We are here this morning to see that judgement is passed. Nàmo." He turned with a nod to my master, who nodded to me.

*Míleth, there is a feä waiting at the halls for you. Bring him.* he ordered. With a bow, I thought myself away and came back, bringing with me the feä that they had asked for. Strange, I feel as though I have seen or heard of this particular elf before. I set him in the centre of the room, where he stood, shivering.

"Beleg Cúthalion, have you anything to say for yourself?" Manwë asked flatly.

Beleg!? "No, lords. Only that I regret nothing." Was the answer, quiet and broken.

There was a silence. "Then let it begin." Manwë finally intoned.

*Míleth, stay next to him. Don't touch him unless necessary.* Nàmo ordered. I inclined my head in acknowledgement.

*yes master.*

Beleg started thrashing, clutching his head as all of his memories were brought out, shown before the Valar, being judged. I felt pity for him. All that he must have gone through-! But it was necessary, so that all could be forgiven.

"No! No! Turin!" That last cry, along with its accompanying sob and shudder, broke my heart. I knelt as the Valar paused to allow him to recover somewhat before going on. I drew the poor feä into my arms.

"Shh. It's okay. I know it hurts, but it is for your own good. Hush now, it's almost over, you'll be okay." I whispered softly as his sobs died to whimpers. I let him go softly and it resumed.

Soon, though, it was over, and the poor wreck was left sobbing and huddled on the floor. The Valar were as unreadable as always. Elíl appeared next to Irmo, giving me a questioning look.

*Beleg.* I replied. Her eyebrows shot past her hairline.

Nàmo came forwards and knelt, drawing the feä into the folds of his robe. "All is well, Beleg. You have been forgiven. All is null and void, and you are loved and safe." He whispered softly as Beleg wept. Nàmo hissed his brow, and all of a sudden he began to thrash, screaming. Elíl and I smiled knowingly. The love of Eru is indeed a strong thing.

After he collapsed, gasping for breath, he looked up, eyes clear and innocent. "Where Nana?" He lisped, looking around. I blinked.

*He's asking for his mother?* I asked lord Nàmo confusedly.

*No.* was the answer, but before I could say anything else, Beleg suddenly caught sight of me and reached out his arms.

"Nana!" He exclaimed. I froze like a deer caught in headlights, mind whirling. Wha-? Nàmo gave me a look and I snapped out of it, coming forwards and gathering him into my arms as he clung to me.

"M'sorry nana. I was bad. I'll be good, I promise." He whimpered. I scrabbled for an answer.

"There is nothing to forgive that has not been already, little one. I know you'll be good." I replied, stroking his head. He fell asleep, looking generally exhausted and relieved. I looked up.

"I'm not his nana." I said, baffled, as the Valar smiled at me.

"But you have been given that role in his mind. He remembers that you held and comforted him when he was hurting, and as a result you are his safety." Manwë answered softly. I looked down at him, blinking.

"O-okay..." I said hesitantly, and felt myself sigh. "I can't say no anyway." I grumbled. "I always did like him." I kissed the sleeping feä and handed it to Elíl, who took it and smiled at me.

*Im going to take him to Lòrien where he'll sleep for a while and slowly get accustomed to a body again. Since he doesn't have any family out of Mandos that is known, he'll probably be released into your care.* She told me, and I nodded.

*If I get to be a nana, so do you.* I informed her, and she rolled her eyes at me with a snort before thinking them away to Lòrien. I stuck out my tongue in reply as the Valar chuckled.

"Very good- ah, and you know that your brothers will be released today." Nàmo reminded me, to which I nodded.

"Will I have to do anything, master?" I asked him.

"You will receive them at the gates when they are released with others, yes, and take them to the house where Glorfindel and Ecthelion live. Since the Feänorians no longer have a home, the two have volunteered their home instead since they think it too large anyway." He answered.

"Yes Atto!" I said happily.

He chuckled. "Good. Now, get back to it, Padawan, Elíl will be there as well by now." He scolded good-naturedly, giving me a small shove.

I grumbled. "Alright alright already master, I'm a getting, I'm a getting." I huffed, stalking off.

"And dear, do be careful." Vairë fussed after me. "Eonwë told me about the shelf."

I grinned wildly as I turned back to her. "Yes Ammë. I'll be very careful... And make sure that when I decorate that shelf to put some weeds and flowers in it." I snickered, beating a hasty retreat as Nàmo shouted after me and the Valar burst into laughter.

"PADAWAN!"

...

Elíl and I are currently heading to the gates of Lòrien to wait along with a small crowd of elves for the ones that will be released for the day.

We were in Maia form, and as a result when we arrived and clad ourselves in our respective fana all of the elves started, staring at us in awe. We were dressed in our apprentice tabards, and smiled at the elves that stared. Some blushed and looked away, while others smiled back and still others looked wary.

"Excuse me?" A small elfling tugged on my tabard. An elleth I took to be her mother looked horrified, but it just knelt with a smile.

"Yes, little one? What is your name? My, but you're pretty." I said softly, tapping her nose. Her eyes lit up and she giggled.

"My name is Faervel. Are you a Maia under Lord Nàmo?" She asked shyly.

I laughed. "Yes, indeed I am." I answered cheerfully, noticing that many elves started to glance our way as though listening to our conversation.

"My brother is supposed to be released today. His name is Tiutalion. Ha-have you seen him before? Is he okay?" She asked quietly, looking down.

I tipped her chin up to look at me. "Little one, I'm sorry I have not seen your brother." Her face fell. "But-" and she perked up a little- "I assure you that he okay." I said gravely. "He has been having a very good time in the halls of Mandos, resting and at peace. I am sure that he will be very happy to see you. There is no need to worry about him, Faervel." I assured her with a smile.

She threw her arms around me and I hugged her back. "Thank you!" She squealed. I laughed along with Elíl.

"Oh penneth, there is no need to thank me! Thank Eru." I said, pulling back with a wink. "I am sure that Atto is happy enough to give you back your brother.." I smirked as Elíl snorted.

"Who's your Atto?" Faervel asked me, confused. I giggled.

"Lord Nàmo is my Atto, little one. And Eru is father of us all. And Elíl here, my sister, is daughter of Lord Irmo. We are often called the Feänturiel siblings." I said cheerily along with Elíl.

She looked at me in awe. I tapped her nose and stood, grasping her hand gently. "Shall we wait together?" I asked with a smile. She nodded, just as her mother came over.

"I'm sorry, my ladies, I didn't-"

"Do not apologize, my lady." Elíl spoke up. "It is our duty and pleasure to provide comfort to all those children of Eru. Please, wait with us for our loved ones." She smiled at the elleth, who nodded, looking at ease now.

"Forgive me, but you are waiting for someone?" Another ellon spoke up, looking curious. Elíl and I smiled indulgently at each other.

"Yes. It is a long story, but let us just say that we have come to know and love several elves who have no other family to welcome them. Therefore we are receiving them to take them to our home." Elíl answered with a polite nod.

The ellon nodded back. "Ah. I see. They must be very important elves, then." He murmured. Elíl and I shot each other looks.

The Feänorians would probably not be very well received because of their past. Perhaps our presence would lessen that animosity somewhat, but it was still inevitable. Just then, I felt a new weight in my arms and fell to the ground with an 'oomph.'

Elíl was sniggering, and Faervel was giggling next to me. I looked into the face of a grinning Mairon.

"Why you little-" I growled playfully, poking Mairon's sides and stomach so that he squirmed with laughter. "How dare you, little brother!" I scolded, and he slapped my hands away.

"Sorry!" He whined. "I wanted to see you." He defended himself, glomping onto me and allowing me to stand again.

"You know I'll always welcome you, Mairon." I replied dryly, eliciting some gasps from the elves. I turned and smiled at them reassuringly, kissing Mairon's cheek.

"Who did you play with today, Mairon?" Elíl asked teasingly. He sniffed.

"Eluríd and Elurin." He replied promptly. Again, gasps at the legendary names. I sighed.

"Very good." I said quietly, feeling mournful at the mention of the two.

Just then, the gates began to open, causing all attention to shift there. A grey mist was in front of the entrance, allowing no one to see inside too far. A figure began to materialize out of the mist, coming towards the gate.

An elf sidled out hesitantly, looking around as though he wasn't sure what to expect. A family stepped forwards with glad cries, and the elf went towards them and was hugged tightly. Elíl and I smiled at the reunion, watching as more and more came and were claimed and taken away to their new homes.

Finally, there was only three groups left- one family, Faervel and her parents, and Elíl and I. I guessed that we would be last to produce the least amount of fuss, and by the look on Elíl's face I knew we had the same train of thought. Another elleth came out, and was welcomed warmly by her family and led away.

Then finally Faervel's brother came out. Faervel let out a cry and ran forwards, tackling her brother to the ground. Elíl and I laughed happily as the ellon looked first startled and then looked at Faervel.

"Fa-Faervel?" He asked, and then hugged her tightly as she cried. The whole family hugged, and I playfully punched Elíl's arm.

"Getting Teary-eyed, are we?" I teased. She poked out her tongue at me as Mairon laughed.

"Come and see my brother!" Faervel called out to me excitedly, and I laughed as I joined them.

"Well met, Tiutalion." I winked as he blushed in embarrassment.

"You-you're Míleth, aren't you? I saw you once- with the others. I think you sorted them out..." He asked hesitantly. I smiled.

"Yes, I am. I only regret that I didn't see you. But we meet now!" I said cheerily, patting his arm. "I am happy that you are back with your family. Ah, now it is my turn. If you will excuse me-" I stood and went to stand by Elíl as another figure stepped forwards. He came forwards hesitantly, stepping out.

"Tyelkormo!" I exclaimed, walking forwards as I set Mairon down. I heard Faervel's family gasp. Celegorm looked to me, startled, and then smiled hesitantly. I hugged him tightly.

"Finally. I thought you'd never come." I teased with a laugh. He grinned and hugged me back.

"Thank you, sister. I never would have if you wouldn't have convinced me." He replied. I snickered.

"Not true. But then, come, meet Elíl, my sister." I said. Elíl grinned.

"Now I've heard a lot about you." She teased. "About how you would cause such havoc at home running about with Huan and wrecking everything." She laughed, causing Celegorm to sigh and me and Mairon to laugh.

"Does he get all the attention or do we get some too?" A new voice asked from behind me.

"Amrod! Amras!" I exclaimed, falling to me knees and squeezing the breath out of them. They grinned and hugged me back, and immediately began to play with Mairon happily, rolling about in the grasses.

"And me, seler? Assuming you haven't forgotten about me, that is..."

"Maedhros! I could never forget you and all the trouble I caused you." I snickered, making him grin wryly as we hugged. Elíl hugged him as well.

"Shades." She teased, making him roll his eyes.

"I wish I still had them." He grumbled.

"You mean these?" Nàmo's voice called from the gates, twirling them on his finger with a smirk.

I mock-gasped. "Oh my gosh, no! I don't want to see you wear them, Atto, I'll be scarred for life!" I shrieked, leaping for them and snatching them away as he laughed at me.

"As you wish, Míleth. Now, Tiutalion, no more climbing trees, or else I will have to send a contingent of Maia to bring you down again." He scolded the ellon mildly, shaking a finger, as he blushed and Elíl burst into a fit of amusement.

"Yes, lord Nàmo. I don't think I'll want to climb a stool for a millennia after that." He mumbled, making his family gape and stare.

"Míleth, I specifically want you to watch over this one- he'll need it." Nàmo turned to me.

"Yes master... I should know, I'm the one he pummeled to a pulp last time." I grumbled, making Tiutalion and his family choke.

"I did? I seem to recall that you beat me to a pulp instead and you were left unscathed." Caranthir retorted next to Nàmo. I snickered.

"Ah, I was pretty sore indeed, Caranthir. Besides, you apologized, didn't you? Such an adorable apology too. 'You must hate me. I-I hit you.'" I mimicked, making Elíl kill herself laughing and for Caranthir to turn beet red.

"He did!? Make a note of it, Caranthir apologized!" Celegorm said with a splitting grin. I broke down in laughter and Caranthir muttered under his breath.

Eonwë appeared exasperatedly, quill tucked behind his ear as I sat down, crying in mirth as Nàmo sighed and shook his head.

"The things I have to go through with you incorrigible troublemakers." He sighed.

"Master, just say it, I'm the bane of your existence. You know you love me for it." I sniggered.

"You're the one who said it, not I, yeldë." He replied haughtily.

*oh Nàmo, admit it. Besides, it only makes sense since you're the most incorrigible of us all.* Manwë's voice made the whole glade ring with laughter as Nàmo glared into the air.

"I take my leave. Be good." He shook his head at the elves, shooting me 'the look.'

"The model of propriety, master." I grinned. Elíl wiped her eyes.

"Oh my." She sighed as I hugged Caranthir tightly. "I needed that laugh. Working with the reborn is such a hassle sometimes. Now come on, you lot, time for us to go home." She began dragging Celegorm and Maedhros and the twins and Mairon off.

I shook my head. "If you should need any help, call out and ask for me, and I will come, Tiutalion." I added to the ellon, who nodded gratefully.

"Thank you." He replied. Then he grinned wryly. "I guess I'm not the only one who thinks lord Nàmo is rather... Errm...interesting-?" He said.

*I heard that.* Nàmo's amused voice caused me and Tiutalion to cringe and beat a hasty retreat! to his family's bemusement and Caranthir's amusement.

...

"Home." I groaned. "Valar help me, I need to try to keep my sanity seeing these elves every day." I said, shooting all of us that were gathered a mock-horrified look. They all stuck out their tongues and gave me a raspberry as Eonwë stood in the corner, writing furiously.

"EONWË, GET OUT!" I yelled, making Elíl laugh her head off along with Ecthelion and Glorfindel.

Caranthir, Celegorm, Maedhros, the twins Amrod and Amras, Mairon, Elíl, Glorfindel, Ecthelion, Maglor, and I are in the living room, just sitting and talking about living arrangements. All of us have already chosen our rooms and are settling duties and chores. Maglor had also joined us from where he had been with Fingon.

"Anyways, so each of us obviously cleans our own rooms, and my duty is in the library everyday, Míleth's is in the kitchen, Caranthir is the handyman, Celegorm has the gardens and aviary, Maedhros and Glorfindel have the care of the training salle and weapons, the twins and Mairon are responsible for helping out whenever asked, Maglor has the music room, and Ecthelion has the cleaning of the house." Elíl outlined the plan. We all nodded in agreement.

Elíl was sitting in between Ecthelion and Maglor, while I was smashed between Glorfindel and Caranthir, Mairon sitting on my lap and the twins in Elíl's. They had taken a shine to her.

Celegorm suddenly yelped. "Drago! Saphira!" Two wolves skulked into the room and settled at our feet. Well, that is, Drago curled on top of mine and Saphira on Elíl's.

I blinked. "Well, Celegorm, looks like you also have the care of them along with the aviary..." Elíl voiced my thoughts. Drago opened an eye and yawned, making Elíl and I rolled our eyes helplessly.

"Companion to Elfsky indeed." I mumbled, bending down to pat his head. He growled.

*Míleth, Padawan, would you come here and calm down your brother!? He's making a wreck!* Nàmo roared, making me wince.

"Oh. I- I'm coming, master!" I whimpered, leaping up.

"Brother?" The rest chimed.

"Erm, well more like- never mind, yes." I sighed. "Maeglin, so help me if you-" I thought myself away as the rest of them were left to ply Elíl for details.

Oh Force, this isn't gonna be good.