yeesh, this was quite a chap to write... WoodElfJedi, again this is for you...

WoodElfJedi: yes, tree bark.. I was rather out of it when I wrote that. Spidey- ha! What a crummy joke! XD I about killed myself writing this... I hope it makes you do the same...

Chapter 19

When I arrived at the room, it was to see Maeglin thrashing on the bed, screaming and being held down by five Maiar. Five. Oh Force.

At first I was shocked, and then for some reason, I suddenly started feeling anger swell inside of me. How could he be such a brat? Just because he didn't get the girl he liked, just because he was a prince, just because he was teased for his heritage, he thinks he can treat everyone like dirt, have tantrums whenever he likes, betray his own family and city to the enemy, and even now act like a spoiled child!?

I marched over to the bed, literally feeling myself start to grow angrier and darker. The Maiar took one look at me and left, leaving Maeglin to scream for all he was worth. I did nothing, just stood by the bed, arms crossed and foot tapping as I stared down at him.

He abruptly stopped, looking up at me and breathing hard. "If you are quite done?" My voice was icy and acidic, dark and dangerous. He blinked, just staring at me.

"What do you mean by this behavior?" I snapped sharply, visibly reigning myself in from lashing out or doing something stupid.

"I can act how I li-"

"That's the very same attitude that got your uncle, your cousin, your people, your city, and yourself killed." I snarled, taking in a deep breath.

He stopped as though he had been slapped. "I'm not like my father. I'm not like him. I'm not him." He started saying to himself blankly.

"You sure as Morgoth didn't act like it, Maeglin Lomion. Look at yourself now, throwing a tantrum like a child and embarrassing all who know you. Do you realize what your actions made Turgon look like? And even now, do you have any idea how much you are making me regret that I even know you?" I demanded harshly.

He started breathing heavily. "I'm not- I don't- I'm not him." He whimpered, tears in his eyes. My lip curled.

"Then get ahold of yourself and for once in your immortal life ACT LIKE IT." I barked. And that did it in. He let out a scream- and pitched himself at me again. I groaned inwardly as we tumbled onto the floor, rolling around with him punching me furiously as I made sure neither of us were too hurt or he didn't hurt himself.

I flipped him away from the table which we had gotten too close to, simultaneously dodging a punch aimed for my nose. It went on for a good hour, I'm sure. If not, it sure seemed like it. Finally, though, he just plain gave up. He was crying, sobbing and curled up on the floor in a miserable huddle, years of anger and annoyance, hatred and despair all done out. Let out.

With an audible sigh this time, I dragged him into a hug, rocking quietly and saying nothing. He didn't fight me off, instead just allowing me to do whatever and ignoring the world. Finally he fainted for the second time, allowing me to put him on the bed and latch a part of my consciousness onto him so that this time I would know if he was awake.

In a moment, Nàmo was at my side, picking me up and carrying me away to his room. A dull aching and throbbing, along with stinging, started to make themselves known, and I blinked, feeling weary.

"Atto? Where are we going?" I slurred, feeling generally hurt. Physically, that is, not emotionally.

"You were in elven form, Míleth, didn't you notice?" He replied softly, setting me down and holding a wet cloth to my arm. Funny, I didn't remember. But now that I looked at myself, I realized I did have quite a few scrapes, scratches, and myriads of bruises. I yelped and winced as the cloth stung my arm.

"I'm sorry, master. I didn't realize." I said meekly, reaching up a hand to my cheek which was throbbing. He shook his head and prevented me from touching it.

"There is no need to apologize, Míleth. I'm afraid that Maeglin hurt you, though." He murmured.

"No Atto. He hurt himself more." I replied with a sigh. "Poor thing." It was my turn to murmur.

"Perhaps." He conceded. "They are going to want to send Maeglin to my halls in the most painful way possible, you know." He said dryly of my brothers and Elíl.

I rolled my eyes. "If I don't knock sense into him first." I muttered as he chuckled.

"Perhaps I shouldn't have given his feä solidity, hmm?" He teased. I glared at him.

"Yes." I replied acidly, making him chuckle harder.

"Forgive me, Padawan. Though if it mollifies you then I give you permission to blame me for it." He said with a smile. I shook my head exasperatedly.

"That's not good enough. It's too small." I whined.

"Don't whine, it was generous enough." He scoffed.

"MASTER! I DONT WHINE!" It didn't help that I said it in a clearly whiny voice now, did it?

He burst into laughter, drawing me into a hug. "Here." He finally chortled. "I'll make sure you have only one sign that it ever happened." He winked, and then kissed the crown of my head, making me feel much better and notice that all of my hurts were gone except for the one on my cheek.

"Thank you master, that's much better... And for that mollifying thing, can I have a pie made by Ammë?" I asked slyly, making him go into another fit of amusement.

"Of course, yeldë." He choked, drawing an arm around my shoulders and sitting next to me.

"That is-" He added- "if you're willing to risk being poisoned..."

*Nàmo! I'll have you remember that it was your attempted dish of mushrooms that nearly sent Ingwë into your own halls and made him swear you meant to put him there!* Vairë's voice scolded, sending me into hysterics as Nàmo muttered rebelliously under his breath.

Eonwë appeared, looking floored. I screamed in laughter, doubling over. "You-" I gasped.

"Manwë- help me- mistake- wed- Vairë-" Eonwë was muttering. I rolled on the floor, tears running down my cheeks.

*what was that, brother? You finally ask for counseling where you went wrong in your marriage?* Manwë's voice was vaguely amused. But it was the tinge of hopefulness in his voice that made me curl up, the breath knocked out of my lungs.

"Eonwë, out." Nàmo said, voice forbidding. "Manwë, this has nothing to do with you."

The book slammed shut as Eonwë promptly fled. "Padawan, stop laughing this instant." He demanded, but I was too far gone already. The fact that Tulkas was roaring along with me didn't help.

"Míleth! Tulkas, stop goading her!" Nàmo sounded petulant, making me gasp and cry harder.

*Its not my fault, you only have yourself to blame!* Tulkas sniggered.

*and who says that the Valar are not above revenge?* Nienna sounded coy. I staggered to my feet and leaned against the doorpost, clutching my stomach and trying to breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

I can't breathe.

"I give up. I am utterly convinced that everyone hates me. My job has finally caught up with me." Nàmo muttered. I recovered rapidly at that one.

"Aww, Atto, don't say so. I love you." I hugged him tightly, planting a hearty smack on his cheek before skipping out the door. "See you later Atto, I'm still expecting that pie!" My voice wafted back to his ears.

*is it just me, Nàmo, or are even your ears red?* Oromë asked suspiciously.

*shut it and go back to chasing your butterflies, Oromë!* Nàmo hissed, causing the hunter to splutter indignantly on his laughter as his voice faded away.

*funny how an apprentice and daughter can so drastically change our dear judge of the dead, isn't it, Vairë?* Estë sighed.

*its so sweet* Vána cooed happily.

*I think that Míleth is a good example.* Vairë answered with a pleased tone.

*Im still here. Would you kindly take your conversation where I can't hear you?* Nàmo asked dryly.

*whatever for, dear? Are you embarrassed? Oromë is right, you've been rather red ever since she kissed your cheek... You hear that, my dear? I do believe you've managed to fluster Nàmo himself.* Vairë crowed triumphantly.

I stopped in the corridor I was walking through, leaning against a pillar with tears of mirth streaming down my cheeks. Several Maiar stared as they passed a heap of hysterically shaking Míleth.

*absolutely not. I was never flustered in my entire life* Nàmo interjected hotly. *so stop laughing, errant apprentice mine.* he barked.

*really? I seem to remember that you were rather flustered the first time you asked me for a dance among the stars. And then there was the first bunch of flowers you gave me that I thanked you for, not to mention the first time we kissed I was the one who had to start it since you couldn't scrape up enough courage to lean down- are you even listening to me, dearest?* Vairë asked plaintively.

The Valar burst into roaring as Nàmo fled the conversation, leaving me breathless and reeling with my cheeks tear-stained and an idiotic smile on my face. Needless to say, it took me quite a while to actually get up and attempt to stagger home.

...

By the time I got there, my side hurt, my cheek was throbbing, my eyes were red, and my limbs were aching terribly. I sank down onto the couch nearest the door, breathing ragged and clutching the stitch in my side.

Everyone immediately rushed to my side. "Míleth? What's wrong? Are you alright?" They fussed over me.

"Air." I rasped. They moved away to give me breathing space as I recovered.

"Sorry to scare you. I'm fine, just rather..." Hysterical laughter threatened to bubble out from my lips. "Indisposed." I choked.

"What happened?" Elíl demanded.

"You're hurt!" Glorfindel exclaimed, brushing my cheek gently with his fingers.

"Well that's the only hurt I really have, I'm just exhausted really." I mumbled, letting my hair fall over my face to hide the flames that were creeping up my neck.

"From what?" Maedhros demanded, sounding as though he was holding back something in his throat.

I looked back up, face normal. "I had to go to Maeglin you remember-"

"What did he do to you?" Caranthir demanded.

I sighed. "It was totally my fault." So I explained everything. They were shaking their heads by the time it was done. "I'm fine, really, just tired... I have a stitch in my side." I muttered.

"What?" Elíl asked. I buried my face into my hands and used my Maia powers to project the whole thing back to them. By the time it was over I was lying weakly on the couch and everyone was in various stages of moaning or gasping on the floors or random furniture.

"I can't breathe." I rasped.

"What do you mean? My heart stopped beating!" Elíl retorted. I groaned.

"Even that is hard to believe of lord Nàmo..." Celegorm said weakly.

"And you wonder why I'm his apprentice?" I snarked back, causing them to laugh again.

"They don't. I do." Nàmo's voice was rather frightening, but I just leaped up and glomped onto him.

"Help me, master, I can't breathe." I moaned. He placed his head in his hand as the others laughed, slowly recovering.

"No, I shall not as punishment for your insolence. And don't forget that you have an appointment with Maeglin again sometime in the next- say- several hours." He reminded me.

"Ah, and I came to tell you that Prince Findaràto wishes to visit." And with that, he disappeared. I sulked on the couch.

"Eonwë, so help me I will strangle Maeglin next time I go there..." I muttered.

"Why would you want me to help you?"

"I didn't. I wanted to see if I used your name if it would go in your blasted book. As it doesn't, I believe I may have found myself a new expression..."

Eonwë's groan elected quite a few laughs from the others as we trooped off to dinner.

...

"MAIRON!" My shriek echoed through the house.

"AMROD!"

"AMRAS!" Several other shrieks joined mine.

The three tricksters burst out of three different rooms, scattering with giggles as two Maiar and one red-haired elf decided to come to the doorways in a fury.

"Those tricksy little-" Elíl snarled, trying to shake her hands off. They were stained a very nice blue, matching her robes.

Maedhros sighed exasperatedly. Elíl and I couldn't help but snicker at his plight. His poor white robes had been stained a hideous green and red, making me shudder in disgust.

I, on the other hand, had been subjected to hair dye during the night. Several strands of my hair and the tips had been dyed a purple color which I knew wouldn't come out for at least a good week if not more.

"At least yours matches." Elíl muttered at me. I rolled my eyes.

"You have it easy. Do you know how much I'm going to be teased for this?" I demanded, glowering in the direction of the errant trio.

"They ought to be called the Terrible Trio." Maedhros growled.

"What's wrong?" Ecthelion and Glorfindel came down the hall. With a cry of surprise, both Elíl and I leaped into our rooms and slammed the doors. We were only dressed in night shifts, after all.

"What's gotten into them?" Ecthelion sounded puzzled.

"We all had some kind of visit from the Terrible Trio last night." Was Maedhros' vague answer.

"Oh?" Glorfindel asked, confused.

"You know, the Ambarussa and Mairon?" Maedhros dead-panned.

"Oh."

"When are you ever gonna do something?" Maedhros demanded.

*about what?* sounds like Elíl is eavesdropping too.

*i ain't droppin' no eaves!* she protested as I sniggered.

"I don't know... I have to find a proper way first... Besides, I don't even know if it's requited." Ecthelion sounded embarrassed.

"Are you jesting, Thel? Míleth has been dropping you hints for the past week." Glorfindel scoffed.

"Don't talk about me, that's pot calling kettle black." Ecthelion scoffed.

"So? I truly don't know-"

"Not true. She's been making it clear that you're her interest for a while now." Maedhros interjected dryly.

"As a mere book person." Glorfindel muttered.

"I would have thought you would have been adverse to the topic." Ecthelion made a save.

"Who said any such thing? Just as the dwarves have their Ones so do we, in an albeit different manner!" Maedhros scoffed. Their voices floated down the hallway as they went on. Silence settled.

*what was that conversation all about?* Elíl sounded confused.

*ecthelion makes sense to me, Glorfindel doesn't. Oh well. Mysteries.* I said and went to get dressed.

*wait, what? What did he mean then!?*

Of course, I didn't answer that one...