okay, next chappie! Umm, anyone want to suggest a preferred love scene between any couples? Just asking!
Horseyyay: you know what I'm gonna say to you. Khamûl! *snickers*
LadyVanya: no, no worries. You'll find out in this chapter... ;)
WoodElfJedi: I know, right? *grins* here it comes! *blows raspberry*
Sparklypancakes: Here it is! *squeals* Errm! no! I don't think that's normal... Is it? Wait, that means I'm not normal... Good thing, too. Is there such a thing as normal? 0_0
Chapter 24
We found ourselves face-to-face- or rather, face-to-waist- with all of the Valar. In our living room. There was a moment of absolute silence, while the Valar watched us with amused faces, until I spoke up.
"Like, Ak-waaaard." I chimed. Everyone started laughing and scooted, making room for all of the Valar who laughed along with us. Nàmo decided to sit in the lazy-boy with me and Tyelko and Mairon at his feet. Vairë cuddled in with him, as did the rest of the Valar with their respective counterparts.
"Well, this is turning out to be the most interesting lovers day I have ever had." Elíl remarked. Then she gave us all a cheeky grin. "That is, with family. I never had a special someone." She smirked, making us roll our eyes.
"Maybe, but I can't say I'm complaining." Lir chirped cheerily from Nienna's side.
"I'm having a morose lovers day." I announced. "The atmosphere is so gloooomy." I moaned. "Can't you just feel it? No special person, alone in the shadow of death." I mourned teasingly, as everyone burst into snickers. Nàmo whacked my head.
"Padawan, is it too much to ask for one day- evening- HOUR- where you are not disparaging your poor master?" He groaned, and the Valar laughed.
"Absolutely not, Nàmo!" Irmo teased where he sat on the arm chair with Estë and Elíl at their feet. "You deserve it." He sniffed, and Nàmo sulked.
"Ooh, ooh, look!" I squeed. "Take a picture, the two dark ones are both sulking!" I wind milled my arms as I pointed to Caranthir and Nàmo, who both sent me dark glares that had the rest roaring. I smiled innocently. "What?"
"Popcorn anyone?" Elíl offered, setting the metal popper out. Ecthelion got up.
"Good opportunity to make some hot chocolate for everyone." He said, and went off to the kitchen.
"Oh wait!" Elíl called, leaping after him. "I've got an awesome recipe for cocochino, let me help!" So they went into the kitchen as everyone looked at each other.
"They're alone! Finally!" I whisper-yelled, fist-pumping the air and sending everyone into spasms of laughter.
"So did you hunt anything today, master?" Celegorm asked Oromë and Vána who sat on the floor with Amrod and Amras, who were happily eating their sweets. Everyone was munching, actually. Except for the Valar.
"Oh kri- I mean oh snap! I'll be right back!" And I ran upstairs to get my chocolate.
When I got back down, Manwë and varda, sitting on the settee with Caranthir, were chatting away with Tulkas and Nessa on the couch with Maedhros. They all looked at me with my arms full. I set down my bundles and gave a cheeky grin.
"As we explained to the others already, on earth we have the custom of females giving chocolate to the males on lovers day while the males give flowers, preferably red roses, to the females. But there is also what we call, and I quote, 'obligatory chocolate' unquote, to family such as parents and brothers and other relatives and friends." I rattled on.
"So, I decided to make some chocolate for the Valar... Assuming that they've never had any." I grinned, making Lir giggle.
"Ith goot!" Mairon declared, munching on his ring.
They laughed and the elves began to tell the Valar each gift they got and what the comments were. By the time they were finished everyone was in stitches and the Valar were eagerly looking at me.
I started with lord Manwë and lady Varda. "Each of these has a special meaning, so I hope you get it." I laughed, and handed them each their gifts.
Manwë got a chocolate eagle, wings outstretched and each feather carved carefully. The eagle had on its back another figure... Of Glorfindel. Manwë winked at me. "Good choice, my dear. Now I can get rid of my frustrations with our Balrog-slayer... by chewing him out." He grinned, and sent all of us into hysterics. Elíl and Ecthelion came in with the mugs just in time to catch the phrase, took one look, and nearly dropped the trays in laughter.
The mugs suddenly floated their way into everyone's grasps, so an accident was prevented. I set mine down, as did the others, with a sigh, and went on. Glorfindel had rolled his eyes but laughed nonetheless, shaking his head.
Varda had received from me a tiny solar system made from chocolate, which she immediately began to eat, starting with Pluto. "Very good! I must admit I did not know that my creations were so delicious." She laughed, and we joined her.
"Poor Pluto." Lir groaned, and Elíl and I howled. I barked, sending us into more stitches as Lir explained, causing everyone to grin once they got it.
Next was Tulkas and Nessa. I gave Tulkas a chocolate helmet, and he grinned at me as he took a giant bite out of it. Everyone was snickering to see the helmet with a hole in it. "Very good." Tulkas garbled. "Best helmet I've ever had." He chuckled, and Nessa rolled her eyes.
I gave Nessa a pair of chocolate ballet-shoes, which was readily received. "Perhaps now I can convince Tulkas to pay more attention to my poor feet." She mourned coyly, making the elves choke and the Valar roar with amusement.
I went on hastily. "Right. Moving on!"
To Oromë I gave a horn of chocolate, which he proceeded to relish. "Although I doubt I shall ever be able to pick up my horn again without unconsciously trying to take a bite out of it." He noted wryly, making us all laugh.
"Then I shall be looking for bite marks on it every time I see you, my lord." I dead-panned, to our amusement.
Vána got from me a figure of a cherub angel, which delighted her very much. "Young yet old." Elíl remarked practically.
Ulmo was next. He took his figure and immediately everyone began to roar. It was undoubtedly Ossë, and Ulmo grinned at me. "Thank you. I do believe I shall keep it and eat it in front of him." He declared, pocketing it in his watery robes that got nothing whatsoever wet.
I was crying with laughter. "Maybe it might give him a rain check!" Lir called, sending us all into more hysterics.
I got to Aulë and gave him a horseshoe. "Better luck next time in your endeavors than you had with the stubbornness of dwarves." I bowed, and danced away from the good-natured swat with a laugh along with the others.
To Yavanna I gave a chocolate covered caramel apple with a wink. "It's at least somewhat healthy." I grinned, and she bit into it with a laugh.
Nienna was next, and I gave her a box of chocolate tissues. "Maybe it might cheer you up, auntie." I said sympathetically, patting her hand and making every one roar as Nienna rolled her eyes and chucked a pillow in my face. Spluttering feathers and pulling a quashed face, I moved on to Irmo.
He got from me a normal sized, chocolate covered marshmallow pillow. "After all, you might be able to give someone sweet dreams if you eat that." I snickered, and made everyone shout "Nàsië!" To his amusement.
Estë got a chocolate mallorn tree. "Because it seems to me that whenever there is the thought of 'rest' there is the thought of Lòrien and therefore the thought of Lothlòrien and therefore leading to mallorn trees." I proceeded to elaborate. "Although granted I should have made a chocolate Ent to go with it." I grinned.
"For Ammë-" and I gave Vairë a long thread of chocolate leading all the way to a distaff made of the same. She smiled. "Thank you, my dear." She said cheerily as she ate.
Nàmo raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?" He asked dryly, and everyone snickered. I grinned.
"Here Atto." I said, and handed him his. Everyone broke out roaring. It was a chocolate coffin.
I cleared my throat, and everyone listened, still sniggering. "I have a quote." I announced. Then I bowed to Nàmo.
"Never knock at death's door. Ring the bell and run. He hates that." I grinned, and almost everyone doubled over laughing, the wind knocked out of them. I grinned triumphantly just as Nàmo grabbed me and pulled me into his cloak.
"Oh, do I?" He demanded, holding back a grin. He began to wrap me firmly into his cloak as I laughed. "Now stay there and see how you like to be in 'the embrace of death.'" He quipped, eating his coffin with a satisfied nod.
"Man, I knew I shoulda put a gag pop-up skeleton in there too!" I whined, snapping my fingers.
Nàmo opened his mouth. "Don't-"
"I DONT WHINE!" Both Glorfindel and I shouted. It seems as though nobody could breathe after that one.
"Well I know Ammë likes to be wrapped up, and I have to admit its quite nice." I declared, sipping on my hot chocolate. "Very warm, contrary to the 'cold arms of death' theory." I said interestedly. "Say, Atto, do you ever hug yourself to see if it's true?" I asked. He sighed as I snickered.
"Míleth Míleth, whatever shall I do with you?" He sighed. I giggled.
"Love me, love me do!" I sang, making Elíl and Lir crack up laughing.
"And that I suppose is the only option." Nàmo sighed in mock-regret. I sniffed.
"It is." I agreed haughtily. "I am too awesome not to." I nodded, and they laughed at me.
Popcorn was handed out. Popcorn with cocochino is really good, you know that? I snuggled into Nàmo's cloak.
"Comfy." I slurred. "That's such a disturbing statement." I noted absently.
"Depends on your point of view." Elíl pointed out with a grin.
"Ecthelion, now your chance!" I suddenly piped up. He turned utterly red.
"Míleth." He growled, but I waved my hand with a sniff.
"You'll thank me one day." I retorted. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I saw Eànauro eyeing her the other day." I said vaguely. If Ecthelion wasn't red then, he was crimson now.
"Come on, Thel!" Glorfindel called gleefully. Ecthelion suddenly looked like he had gotten a genius idea.
"Only if you do!" He bartered. Glorfindel paled.
"I-I-" he stuttered.
"Come on, Glorfy!" Maedhros grinned.
"Fine!" Glorfindel retorted. Ecthelion got up and took a deep breath. The Valar grinned widely and nodded, pleased looks on their faces. He gulped, and then headed for Elíl, who looked confused.
He knelt in front of her formally. "Lady Elíl, I would like to be your escort to the Lover's Day festival on the morrow. May I have this honor?" He asked softly, although his hands were trembling slightly and he looked a wee bit panicked.
Elíl goggled. And gaped. And blinked. I sighed as the rest tried their best to muffle laughter. "Elíl, this is about the time you're supposed to say yes." I said in a loud stage-whisper. Lir squeaked a snort. The rest were gasping. Elíl clamped her mouth shut and blushed furiously.
"Y-yes!" She stammered, and then gave him a shy smile. "I would love to."
Ecthelion looked like the sun had come out, and Elíl giggled, suddenly giving him a hug. He immediately hugged her back, eyes closing in bliss. I tumbled out of Nàmo's cloak, giggling my head off next to Tyelko and Mairon. The Valar were laughing among themselves.
Maglor suddenly stood up, and walked to Lir. Elíl squealed, and Ecthelion clamped a hand over her mouth as she giggled maniacally. I was burying my face into Mairon's hair as we both muffled snickers. Tyelko had his face buried in my shoulder, shaking with suppressed laughter.
"Aegliriel, I would like to be your escort for the Lover's Day festival. May I have the honor?" Maglor asked Lir formally. Lir stared. And then looked to me with a betrayed look. I burst into laughter, face-planting in an attempt to stop myself. Then she swallowed.
"Yes." She squeaked, and blushed. Then she leaned over and gave him a shy hug, which he returned, melting into her with relief. The room roared, clutching stomachs and slapping each other.
"You knew!" Lir said indignantly to me, as Maglor sat beside her with a beatific, smitten grin.
"Would it have made it better if I had?" I retorted, giggling madly. She sighed, conceding defeat.
"Oh Valar." I sighed, making said Powers snicker at me.
Glorfindel suddenly stood and came to me. "YES!" Elíl and Lir shouted.
He knelt. "My turn. May I escort you, Míleth? I- have been wanting the honor for a while." He admitted in almost a stammer.
I sat there stock-still, in shock. What? I had never even noticed that he- Glorfindel liked me? He actually liked me? He LIKE LIKED me!?
"Come on, Míleth!" Elíl complained. I gasped, and for the first time blushed like crazy.
"Oh I've never seen her do that before." Nàmo said interestedly.
"She looks adorable!" Vána squealed. I snapped my mouth shut, feeling suddenly so happy.
"Yes." I whispered, and then smiled at him shyly. The look of relief and something more in his eyes made me blush hotter and look down. He sat beside me and wrapped an arm around me as I leaned against his shoulder unconsciously from the position.
"It's sooo about time!" Elíl cheered.
"It's sooo about time!" I echoed to Ecthelion. He just smiled benignly, happily cuddled with Elíl holding a mug of chocolate. Elíl blushed as I giggled.
"And it's so sweet!" Elíl and I chimed, pointing to Lir and Maglor.
"I always thought of Maglor as the flowers and song type!" Elíl giggled happily, making Lir blush furiously and Maglor smile shyly.
"Ahhhhhhh! I ship it sooo hard!" I squealed. "It needs a name! Aeglor? Maglir? Magliriel?" I bubbled. "Votes!"
"Maglir!" Elíl shouted.
"Aeglor." Maedhros countered. But in the end the overwhelming vote even from the Valar was Maglir.
"Elilion? Ecthelil? Ecthelelil?" I wondered aloud.
"Elilion sounds better." Amrod declared. Everyone agreed.
"Glorfindeth? Milethindel? Milefindel?" Elíl asked with a saucy grin in my direction.
"Glorfindeth." Nàmo declared. "I tell you it was a match made in the timeless halls." He said adamantly as the others roared. Glorfindel and I grinned at each other.
"Well I won't disagree." Glorfindel replied, and I blushed, making my brothers hoot.
"Stop leering. I'll show you tomorrow what an annoyed Míleth can really be like if you don't." I threatened, and they hushed up, albeit still snickering.
"I tell you as soon as I met Lir I was shipping Maglir hard in my mind. Drago literally had to tell me to calm down." I giggled madly, and Lir sighed, to everyone's amusement.
"Elíl told me about Glorfindeth." She sniffed. I glared at Elíl.
"You had your secrets, I had mine." Elíl retorted slyly, grinning at me. Glorfindel's fingers tightened, making me yelp.
"That tickles, Glorfy!" I squirmed.
"Sorry." He said with a chagrined look. I giggled.
"S'okay, just tickled." I leaned up and kissed his cheek, reaching over and grabbing Mairon right after. "Marion, wipe your mouth!" I scolded, wiping away chocolate as he grinned at me.
"Oh great, now he's hyper." I realized with horror.
"Look at him! He looks dazed!" The whole family was roaring at Glorfindel as I sighed, shaking my head.
"Glorfindel." I poked his side. He just smiled dazedly, causing everyone to go into hysterics. "Glorfindel! Glorfy!" I tried, tugging on his hair. He still didn't respond.
"Okay, last try." I groaned, and leaning up, kissed his cheek again. He snapped out of it.
"Eh?" He asked, blinking. I face-palmed. My family howled. The Valar laughed loudly. "What?" He asked, confused.
"I'm never gonna hear the end of that one." I remarked. "Serves me right for having you as my favorite character." I sighed. "Yup. Shoulda known."
"... At least you haven't gotten to Eonwë yet." Elíl said.
I glared. "ELÍL! Puì-en-orch!" I yelled.
"I knew it was too good to last." Elíl sighed.
...
It took me FOREVER to get the trio to bed, and that only under the condition that they could wake me up early tomorrow morning and help me get ready. Marion, anyway. Elíl and Lir managed to barter with their respective twins.
By the time I staggered into bed, I was dead on my feet and more than ready to sleep, but struggled to stay awake to think.
I sat there in bed, knowing that it was important to sort my mind out. Glorfindel liked me? Elves don't just ask someone out on a date. If they ask someone out like that it's a big thing. It means a pursuit for courtship, not to be taken lightly.
How did I feel about Glorfindel? I know him as a character, and I know him as an ellon. A real being. But can I actually love him? Be willing to be with him forever?
I felt confused and not a little scared. A sudden light lit my bedroom and then faded, and I was being wrapped in Nàmo's cloak.
"Your thoughts are troubled, yeldë." He said softly. I buried myself into his cloak as he stroked my hair.
"I don't know what to think, Atto." I whispered. "Do I love him?" I asked, sounding lost.
"I told you that you had a purpose here. What do you think?" Was his only cryptic answer. I thought about it.
A purpose? Elíl was soulmate with Ecthelion, Lir was soulmate with Maglor- wait, does that mean-?
"Do you mean I'm soul mate for Glorfindel?" I asked. "I need to know." I begged.
Nàmo paused. "Yes." He finally answered quietly. I twisted his robe in my fingers, thinking.
I like him, I truly do. Can I love him, though?
"I think- I think I can love him, Atto." I said thoughtfully. "I believe I can. I will see what my heart says." I finished quietly. He smiled, and I could feel it even if I couldn't see it.
"Good, child. Very good." He said approvingly. "Now, sleep. You have a day tomorrow." He said amusedly. Then he began to hum a lullaby, which I fell asleep to readily, moving to the path of dreams.
Irmo must have taken my advice, or the chocolate must have worked, because my dream WAS pretty sweet. It was filled with chocolate, crimson roses, and golden hair. Wait, I didn't say that, did I? Kriff.