Hey guys! I'm finally back! Yay! Thank you for all of the well-wishes for my exams, I did well enough. :) Please, enjoy this new chapter, and don't be afraid to tell me anything you think you'd like to see sometime!
As always, thank you for all faves, follows, and reviews.
I own Nada but Míleth, and any other character you don't recognize as belonging to Tolkien... Except for Lark, Lir, and Tegaladwen.
Chapter 9
*First test.* Oromë's voice said in my mind, and I smiled.
*Yes master.* I answered.
*Remember what I taught you.* Tulkas reminded.
*Of course, my lord* I answered calmly, and Glorfindel shifted stance slightly.
"Here they come." He murmured. He was right. There were five of them, large warg-like creatures that slunk around us in a circle, snarling.
"Yeesh. They're ugly. They must have come over the Pelori." I said.
"Probably." He answered. One of them suddenly lunged. Glorfindel whirled and thrust, and I just stood there patiently. The sword nicked the beast, but didn't kill it. It howled in pain and rage.
"Kriff! Can't believe I missed." Glorfindel muttered, disgusted.
"I'm waiting." I said amusedly, and he did a double take. Then opened his mouth. "Well, looks like we can get them running together, right?" He grinned at me. "Eclipse, Míleth!" He yelled just as another beast lunged, and I felt myself being tugged. I allowed my form to shift until I was fully connected to the sword in his hands.
My head and shoulders materialized above Glorfindel's shoulder in an almost transparent form, and I surveyed them from his point of view. The animals seemed wary, and there was an unnaturally intelligent light in their eyes. They were the first prototype of werewolves, and very sentient, thank you very much.
Glorfindel looked to me, surprised, and I smiled. "Don't get distracted, golden boy." I teased, and he snorted as he turned back to the wargs. There was a mark that decorated his cheek, of a sun-in-eclipse.
"Let's do this, melda." He said, and I nodded.
"Hmm." I answered, and he lunged towards one with a roar. There was a slash, and blood spurted as one went down.
*I tell you, masters, if you're betting how long it will take...* I growled.
There was laughter. *Told you!* Nàmo said smugly.
*Aww come on.* Tulkas groused.
*What!?* I asked. Glorfindel took another down, leaping away from the slashing claws.
*We bet whether or not you would say anything about betting.* Nàmo answered gleefully. *I won.*
I snorted. *Apparently.* I said dryly, and turned back to the battle just as Glorfindel shouted.
"Slash, Míleth!" I sent out a pulse of white energy from the sword that neatly sliced the oncoming warg in two. Two to go, three down.
He managed to take the second to last down, breathing heavily. "Last one." He said.
"Let me handle this one." I murmured into his ear. "Just point." I said gently. He pointed the sword, and burst of white light in a huge ball crashed into the warg, knocking it off of its feet and sending it crashing into a tree. The light passed through the warg's body, and it slumped, dead. The bodies burst into flames, and soon nothing was left.
The sword became a pin once more, and I dissolved the full connection, materializing once more as an elf. The mark on Glorfindel's face disappeared, and he dragged me into a kiss.
"Thank you, melda." He murmured. I smiled.
"Love ya, Glorfy." I answered, and he chuckled.
"Well. That was fun, but now I think I want to go take a swim." He said, and we sauntered off, me explaining more about the pin.
*Well done, Míleth.* Oromë said, sounding pleased.
*Thank you, my lord.* I answered with a grateful smile, and Nàmo sent me a smile that made me grin.
...
After stopping by home to get a change of clothes and towels, Glorfindel and I had left to go to the lake. Lir and Maglor went for a walk while Ecthelion and Elíl finished up preparing dinner, which was supposedly baked fish. The puzzle was nearly done.
When we arrived at the lake, we suddenly noticed that there was a path leading further into the forest. Exchanging looks, Glorfindel and I followed it, to come into a small clearing with a natural hot springs in it. We smiled and decided to use it.
Dressed in a simple thin shift, I slipped into the spring and grimaced at the slight sting of the hot water before it faded into pleasant warmth. I sighed, sinking down in satisfaction before popping back up. Glorfindel was in by then, and he sidled up next to me.
His arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me into him, and I realized that he wasn't wearing anything. I chewed my lip, looking up into the sky. "Glorfindel?" I suddenly asked.
"Hmmm?" He answered, sounding rather out of it.
"Glorfindeeeel." I whined insistently, and he sighed.
"What?" He asked patiently, skimming his fingers down my front.
"What do we do after dinner?" I asked morosely. "It'll be boring."
He let out a grunt. "What do you think I want to do?" He answered, lips pressed against my shoulder. Color tinted my cheeks.
"Umm... Read?" I offered, and he chuckled lowly.
"Yes. Read you. Explore your letters." He said amusedly, and I sighed.
"Glorfindel, please!" I protested, and he laughed, turning me around and nuzzling my cheek.
"Please, melda?" He pleaded, kissing my lower lip.
"Laurëfindel-" I started.
"If you don't want me to, why are you calling me that?" He rumbled against my hair, and I sighed.
"Glorfindel..."
"What?"
"Take a bath. Your hair is dirty."
Sigh. "Must you be such a spoil-sport?"
"Am I? Hmmm... Must come from Atto..."
*I'll thank you to leave me out of this, Padawan.*
*Meep!*
...
"That was delicious." Lir said after dinner, and everyone murmured or sighed in agreement. I hiccuped slightly and winced, rubbing my stomach.
"T-too good." I sighed, and they laughed lightly. Glorfindel wrapped his arm around my shoulders as I leaned into him for support, yawning.
"So... We're supposed to leave in what... Let's see..." Elíl mused. "Tomorrow!?"
I nodded. "Yeah, to- wait, tomorrow!?" I yelped, sitting up and nearly cracking my head on Glorfindel's. I leaped up and ran to my room, coming back down with the papers for identification that Nàmo had given me, along with my timetable.
I flipped through it. "Tomorrow at three o clock!" I said, and then riffled through the papers as everyone leaned forwards to hear me better.
"Here. The instructions sheet. 1) you will use ElfSky and ElfStone along with Drago and Saphira and their wolf cubs to go to Fairbanks. 2) when you arrive, you will be provided with necessary identification, bags, clothes, and vehicles. 3) you will drive from Fairbanks two hours away to Wiseman. 4) search for a home 5) more instructions will be provided on completion of these."
I stared at it for a minute, then went through the other papers. "These are all the records of the funds we have to use." I muttered, and Elíl took them from me. She was always the best accountant. "Lir, these are the house arrangement issues." I handed her those papers as she went through them.
"And these are identification papers for me." I said, and leaned back with Glorfindel peering over my shoulder to look. All of the names of everyone were there, elven and human, as well as ages. I suddenly giggled.
"Nelyo is 27, Káno is 25, Lir is 20, Moryo is 23, Tyelko is 22, Pityo and Telvo are 10, Naneth is 42 (she so doesn't look it), Thel is 24, Elíl is 20, Glorfy is 24, I'm 20, Maeglin is 16, Beleg is 18, and Mairon is 9. Do you think it fits?" I asked. "I had to guess at the ages..."
"Seems fine to me... Though to be honest I think we don't really look it so much..." Elíl admitted, and I nodded.
"But it's the closest we can get." Lir said, and we all agreed.
"Wow. I still can't believe we're doing this..." Elíl sighed.
"You're telling me." I answered dryly, and then groaned and flopped against Glorfindel's lap, reading over the papers again. He rubbed circles on my back as I chewed my lip and hummed slightly.
"It's almost eight o clock." Lir said, looking out the window. "We should plan our schedule for tomorrow." She suggested, and out timetables were reset to plan the next day.
"We should at least get up at six and eat, getting home by seven." Ecthelion pointed out, and we nodded and jotted it down.
"We should pack the small things we need or want, excluding clothes." Maglor murmured, his head buried into Lir's hair as she snuggled against him comfortably.
"We need to make a list of what kinds of things to pack." Glorfindel said, pulling me up into his lap and looking over my shoulder.
"Let's concentrate on the schedule first, then make the list." Elíl suggested.
"Then after packing we need to eat lunch and decide on a place to transport ourselves." I said, writing it down.
"Why not in the maze behind the house?" Lir suggested. "It's enclosed and private."
We nodded. "And any other things can be settled at the spur of the moment." Elíl said in satisfaction, and I pulled up a piece of paper.
"Okay then! Things to pack. That includes sentimental items, jewelry, any supplies we need, what else? We should pack our most elaborate clothes and at least one pair of regular robes." I said, jotting it down.
"True. Also weapons." Ecthelion said, and I nodded.
"Basic commodities for comfort?" Lir suggested. "You know, like a favorite brush or something." She shrugged.
"I think that goes under sentimental items." Elíl pointed out.
"I'm not sur- Glorfindel, please stop distracting me." I complained, and Glorfindel smirked as he ignored me and continued to draw circles into my waist. I sighed and rolled my eyes, going on. "Oh, and Maglor, don't forget your hand harp." I said with a smile, and he nodded.
"I can't really think of anything else... Oh wait, our packs!" Elíl said, and I nodded, furiously scribbling.
"I think lady Nienna will give Lir one of those." I said with a satisfied nod. "It will come in handy when we need something desperately."
Lir nodded. "And what about... Well no, you already said that..." She muttered.
I glanced around and noticed that it might be about time to wrap things up. "What about a- you know- place?" I winced.
"Rooms." Elíl said hurriedly. I nodded.
"Okay." Lir agreed, and then squirmed. "Káno, please!" She squeaked, just as he buried his face into her neck. Elíl was already trying to make an escape from Ecthelion, who smirked and stood with Elíl in his grasp.
"Well then, quel kamin, my family." He said, and with long strides headed up the stairs.
"Thel, wait- mmph!- no, I-" Elíl cried as Lir and I laughed hysterically through ósanwe. Outwardly, though, we were a little bit in a predicament...
"Quel kamin, Glorfindel, Míleth." Maglor said with a smile that we returned, carrying Lir up to their room as she blushed furiously and squiggled.
"Káno, please-" she begged futilely as I giggled and stood, going to the kitchen while thinking the papers away. Glorfindel followed after lazily.
"What about me, meleth?" He asked, wrapping arms around my waist as I made myself a glass of hawthorn juice.
"What about you?" I asked, purposefully dense, turning to him and sipping the juice innocently. He raised an eyebrow, gaze trailing down to the juice that was rapidly disappearing.
"Don't I get a sip?" He asked instead, and I blinked at the empty cup. Then he plucked it from my fingers and set it in the sink before sweeping me up and beginning to head for the stairs. I squeaked.
"Didn't you want a glass-?" I asked, and he chuckled.
"Oh, I already have a glass, Míleth." He answered amusedly, bending down to my face. I yelped and squirmed as he kicked the door closed and dumped me on the bed, collapsing on top of me.
"Glorfindel-"
"What now?" He grumbled.
I sighed. "Laurëfindel?"
"Yes, melda?"
"... Love you."
"And I you."
He proved it.
...
The next morning was terrible. And wonderful. And... Well, good and bad...
"ECTHELION, STOP!" Elíl yelled, and Lir and Maglor and Glorfindel and I looked up to see Ecthelion's frozen in place on the step, with Elíl above him looking worried.
"Meleth?" He asked Elíl in a startled voice. She went down the stairs and reached up, carefully pulling something from Ecthelion's hair.
"Sorry, but I didn't think you wanted this in your hair..." Elíl said with a sheepish grin, and held out a spider on her palm. Lir turned green.
"Eww oh no, that makes me feel sick." She groaned. I giggled as Ecthelion kissed Elíl in thanks and took the spider carefully, setting it out the window.
"Well. This was a dramatic morning." I paused. "Why do I feel that that is an omen?" I asked suspiciously, and they groaned at me.
"Oh please don't jinx it..." Lir pleaded, and I rolled my eyes.
"Too late now." I retorted, and set out plates and silverware as Lir set out breakfast. After we ate, we planned to go home after cleaning up the cabin as much as we could.
By the time we finally got home, it was ten o clock and we were almost panicking by then. I slammed the door open and ran into the living room, dumping my bags on the floor as everyone looked up.
"Hey family!" I yelled cheerfully, and then began to hug them randomly. "We need to pack, we're supposed to leave at three o clock this afternoon! Here's the schedule and information what you need to pack." I said, pinning up the piece of paper on the wall as Elíl and Lir and Ecthelion and Glorfindel and Maglor came in greeting everyone.
"How was your- er- honeymoon?" Aunt Carrie was asking.
"Great, thank you." Elíl said in a hurry. "Please, look at the schedule, we don't have that much time!" Everyone crowded around the paper and began to read. I hugged Moryo.
"I missed you, Moryo!" I said, and he sighed, placing a hand on my head.
"If you say so, Míleth." He grumbled, and Lir giggled.
"Aww, your relationship is so cute." She teased, and Moryo veritably ground his teeth as I laughed and kissed his cheek. Then I skipped over to Mairon and scooped him up onto my waist, kissing his cheek.
"Hey, little brother!" I said, and he returned the kiss, waving his ring in the air.
"You're back!" He cheered, and I laughed.
"I am. Now... Hanno, yonya, don't I get a greeting?" I asked, and Beleg and Maeglin hugged me as I kissed their cheeks gently.
"Hi Naneth." I hugged Nerdanel, who hugged me back with a fond kiss and smile. "Hi mom, dad." I hugged them with Mairon balanced precariously on my hip. They hugged me back.
"It's so hard to get used to feeling your air..." Mom sighed as I turned an interesting shade of red.
"Erm..." I coughed. "Right. Well, I have to go pack." I said, and dad chuckled and winked at me as mom sighed morosely. I returned the amused smile and then bounded upstairs along with almost everyone else, all of them in a rush to pack the necessary stuffs.
I found three suitcases on the bed, and Glorfindel followed me, while Mairon was still on my hip. I set him down and began to pack my stuff into one suitcase. I put in two pairs of clothes, one elaborate and one not, along with my jewelry box and smaller pack that I had used in my mission to find Lir. Along with that stuff I also put in a few sentimental items that I had gathered from my time here, closing the suitcase and zippering it closed. Glorfindel had done the same.
Then I rushed to Mairon's side of the room and began to pack his stuff as he named and handed them to me. I smiled as I packed a small stuffed toy that I had given him on earth into his suitcase. He also packed a few of the other jewelry pieces he had made. Uncle Jonathan and he had been working together somewhat.
By the time I was finished and carrying his suitcase downstairs as Glorfindel carried mine and his, everyone else was slowly getting theirs down as well. Elíl, Lir, Maglor and Ecthelion had already finished as well because we knew what we wanted to pack, as well as our parents.
I blew hair out of my face as rushed for the kitchen to prepare lunch. Elíl grabbed me. "Míleth, you might wanna go help Beleg and Maeglin in case they need it, along with anyone else while you're at it. Lir and I will get lunch." She said, and I nodded, heading back up.
Beleg and Maeglin were almost finished, and I noted that they had packed two pairs of clothes each as well, along with sentimental items. "Pack your favorite weapons, yonya, hanno." I added. "As many as you need or want." They nodded and proceeded to do so.
I moved to the other rooms, peeking in. Tyelko looked up, speaking English as we had been insisting that they do and get used to. They all spoke with slight accents that we had decided to call Welsh. "Hey sis, I packed two pairs of clothes and a few other small things, but do I need any wash items?" He asked.
"Only if they are special or jeweled or the only one you use. Anything like that you pack. Don't forget your favorite weapon, Teddy." I added with a smile as he nodded.
"Gotcha, Celine." He winked, and I waggled my fingers before moving on. Celegorm had always been the one to pick up slang the easiest.
Next was Nelyo, who looked up and smiled. "Hello, little sister." He said in a slight, wispy accent that sounded Celtic. They all did, actually. "I should pack weapons as well, correct?" He asked, holding up his favorite sword, and I nodded.
"Mmhm. Yeah big brother." I answered, and he nodded.
"Alright then." He agreed, and I waved before peeping into Pityo and Telvo's rooms.
"Hey sissy, can we pack our favorite toys?" They chimed at the same time, and I giggled. Their voices were high-pitched and slightly lisping, but they sounded like children, just more musical.
"As long as there aren't too many." I answered, and in reply they each held up one toy. Pityo's was a travel chess set made by Nelyo and Moryo, made of diamond as white and jet as black, while Telvo's was an intricately carved wolf with a body of sapphire with a diamond sock and amber eyes, made by Celegorm.
"That's fine." I answered, and they grinned at me as I winked and slipped back out.
Last was of course Caranthir. I poked a head into his room and he absently waved me in without even looking up. "Sister, can you come here?" He asked. I liked his voice when he spoke in English. It was melodious, with a low, smooth tone that made you shiver when you heard it. It was like the rest of him- dark beauty.
I went over to him and sat next to the suitcase. "Yeah, big bro?" I asked.
"Tell me if I've gotten it right." He nodded to the suitcase, going through drawers. I poked through and saw his two pairs of clothes and a few personal items, then smiled as I pulled out a little pendant I had given him from earth.
"Oh, so this is sentimental cause it's from your little sister, huh?" I asked slyly. "You really touch me, big bro!" I giggled as he brought his head up abruptly and cracked it against the drawer, turning to me with a wince and a red face.
"Don't take it wrong, it's just something from earth to remind me of our trip there." He said gruffly, and I smiled, putting it back in.
"I know, Moryo." I answered, noting the weapons he had put in. I frowned and picked up one of them, a double-sided dagger. The hilt in the middle was made to expand as well.
"Although I will admit that it also reminded me of you..." He muttered to nothing in particular, frowning down at a piece of paper before crumpling it up in his hands.
I smiled at him. "I'm glad, Moryo." I answered simply. He looked up and sighed, coming forwards in front of me and shoving his hands into his pockets.
"So?" He asked.
I nodded. "You've got it all, unless there's something else you forgot." I answered. He nodded and then helped me to my feet, pulling me into a sudden hug and kissing the top of my head.
"You should be careful, little sister. You're the only sister of our family besides Lir- it's our prerogative to be rather jealous of our family, especially sisters." He added before pulling back and neatly packing and zippering his suitcase.
I smiled happily. "I love you too, big bro Carl!" I exclaimed, and he merely grunted as I skipped out.
"You look happy." Glorfindel noted amusedly as I went into the kitchen.
"Oohhhh, did Moryo finally admit that his little sister is precious to him?" Elíl teased.
I grinned maniacally. "Yes!" I answered, laughing, and picked Mairon up from his chair, dancing around and rapturously kissing him.
He squalled in protest as Lir and Elíl laughed themselves silly and Glorfindel smiled amusedly and the rest of the family looked disbelieving. Moryo came in just then.
"What are you doing, Celine?" He asked with a frown, just as Pityo and Telvo collapsed laughing along with Tyelko.
"He 'fessed!" Tyelko choked. "Someone make a record of it! He apologized once and he 'fessed once in his life!"
The rest of the family began to roar as Moryo turned to me with a red and rather annoyed look as I ignored him, squeezing Mairon to myself enthusiastically. "Míleth!"
I giggled, sitting Mairon back down and shoving a spoonful of casserole into his mouth before happily heading for the kitchen as the rest laughed. "Love you too, big bro!" I yelled, and Moryo sat down with a sigh as I brought out the rest of the dishes and everyone sat down.
"Okay everyone, we have two hours left to eat, wash dishes, close up house, and get out to the maze." Lir called, and we sat down. "Nelyo?" She asked, and Nelyo nodded.
"We thank the AllFather for His goodness to provide us with this food. May He bless us today and help us. Valar valuvar." He said, and we dug into the food.
We barely talked, just shoving down food and then as soon as we finished moving to the sink still chewing and washing up our respective dishes before beginning to close up our windows, doors, and making sure all lanterns and candles were out. We finally finished and began to drag our suitcases out the back doors, and head towards the dog house in the back.
"Drago!" I called.
"Saphira!" Elíl yelled. The two wolves bounded out along with their puppies, coming up to us and eagerly sniffing and licking our hands. I giggled and hugged Drago.
"Looks like another road trip, Drago. Now, introduce me to your wolflings?" I asked amusedly as he barked, and the little cubs tumbled into a line, yipping happily.
*In order- there is Luno, Bolt, Esgal, Sky, and Lara.* Drago said proudly. I ruffled his ears fondly and knelt down.
"Hello, Luno, Bolt, Esgal, Sky, Lara." I said with a smile, and they yapped, tumbling all over my feet. I petted all of them along with Elíl and then stood.
"Okay family, let's go!" I said cheerily, heading for the maze. Glorfindel caught up and grasped my free hand, Drago on my other side and two of the pups running about our feet.
He smiled at me. "Do you remember the first time I brought you here?" He asked.
"How could I forget?" I rolled my eyes. "I mean, Drago was in the fire that day." I said amusedly, and Glorfindel chuckled as Drago whimpered and his tail whisked between his legs.
"You know that's not what I meant." Glorfindel teased. I grinned.
"I do?" I retorted slyly, and he rolled his eyes.
"I will remind you later, then." He growled as I groaned and Lir and Elíl collapsed laughing.
"Please don't." I muttered, then reached up and kissed his cheek.
Then I promptly let go of his hand and my suitcase and pitched myself forwards, throwing my arms around lord Nàmo who was there with Manwë and Irmo in the center of the maze. "Master!" I shrieked happily as Elíl leapt for Irmo.
Nàmo chuckled, bending to place a kiss on my brow. "Míleth, yeldë." He said fondly, running a hand through my hair.
"Now, my children, are you ready?" Manwë asked benevolently. Elíl and Lir and I knelt before him as the rest bowed.
"We will do thy bidding, my lord." We said, and he lifted us and gave us hugs.
"Fear not, for the AllFather shall go with you!" He said, nodding to us. "Come, now, your task awaits." He said with a smile, and we nodded, Elíl and I going to the center of our group along with Drago and Saphira.
"Everyone pick up the nearest pup and hold hands!" Elíl said cheerily, and everyone shuffled into a circle, sitting on top of suitcases and holding hands with pups in their laps.
"Okay, here goes." I said, and took a deep breath, closing my eyes and reaching out with my mind to Drago, then connecting with Elíl and Saphira and finally feeling everyone else. Then there was a snap, and everything went black. Again.
Man, this is so clichéd déjà vu it hurts.