Yeah, I know. You are going to kill me in a million ways. *cringes despite self* sorry, but I really had a terrible writer's block... I'm sorry... And I can't even guarantee anything more than this... I'm really stuck. I know where I want to go, but it's not filling itself in. *sighs* but anyway, please enjoy this in the meantime, if you haven't given up on this... I'm sorry, Lir. I really am.
Chapter 13
"Yonya..." I said, staring at the first first-floor room.
"My room!" Beleg declared, and began to scramble up to his bed. Yeah, UP. There was a treehouse in the middle of the room, complete with the landing at the top that held the bed, a desk, and a chair, while the walls were wallpapered like a forest. There was a bathroom next to the room that was to be decorated with green and red, according to Elíl.
"Amazing." Lyric shook her head as we agreed.
The next room was claimed by Nerdanel, which we agreed to readily. There was a golden-posted bed with a mattress, a table and set of chairs painted an ivory color and lined with gold paint. A fireplace was in a corner, and the walls were painted cream with wood floors. It was altogether a very royal-looking room, as though it could belong in the palace of Versailles. The attached bathroom was in similar colors and moderate sized.
"That mirror is from the Victorian ages." Amroth pointed out a large mirror that stretched from ceiling to floor beside the fireplace. There was a vanity table with the same colors as the other table next to the mirror. "And the tea set on top of the table is worth a fortune. The original owner never knew that, but I had it checked out by Elladan, and it is certainly an ancient piece from France." He said.
The tea set was set attractively on a China plate decorated with blue patterns. The pot-bellied, delicate pot was made of stained glass in a delicate rose color, and a crystal knob decorated the top. The cups were the same rose-colored glass as well.
"Amazing." Nerdanel said. "Is it still usable?" She queried.
"Yes, my lady- Erm, Nadie." Amroth corrected himself at Nerdanel's raised eyebrow, and blushed as we snickered. "It is delicate, but still very usable. French glass is some of the best in the world now." He added with a grin.
"Oh, so Elladan has an interest in artifacts?" Lyric asked, raising an eyebrow at said elf.
"Of course." I answered for him, winking slyly at everyone. "He is, after all, a veritable fossil." I said, and everyone roared at Elladan's splutters.
"Not my fault you named yourself the undead lords." I sniffed, and Elrohir slapped his brother's back, doubled over laughing. I sniggered.
"What does that make me?" Amroth asked teasingly.
"Yoda." I dead-panned. Now Elladan was howling at a spluttering Amroth as I winked at him.
"Moving on." Dad ushered us on hastily before more bad jokes could be made. I giggled as Glorfindel poked me.
"I'm older than Amroth. What does that make ME?" He queried.
"And I'm the oldest." Nelyo drawled.
I rolled my eyes. "Drop it, you two." I shook my finger at them. They retired with grins.
The next room was definitely Káno and Lir's. It was a deep blue mingled with soft grey and silver highlights. The bed was a comfortable queen-sized one set right across from the fireplace, with a wooden table and chairs that were ornately decorated. The room also had a couch in it that had figureheads carved on either side of it.
The second to last room on the first floor was a very large bathroom that had a shower stall, three sinks, and a walk-in-closet. It was obviously a shared bathroom, judging by the size and amount of shelves in the closet.
The last room was rather confusing at first. "What is this supposed to be?" Tyelko asked incredulously.
Aunt Carrie answered first. "A nursery." She declared, and we agreed.
It was painted in pale pastel colors, gentle sky-blues, pale pinks, butter-yellows, cream, and even a hint of spring-green. There was a big bay window in one corner, and a fireplace that was safely grated. The room was empty of any furniture, merely having a thick, luscious carpet that also extended onto the walls as padding for children.
For a moment I suddenly saw the faint forms of children toddling about, and childish giggles and cries echoed through my ears. Then it was gone, and I shook my head slightly. Glorfindel gave me a worried look, but I merely smiled reassuringly, and he relaxed.
"Well, it's a nice one at any rate." Uncle Jonathan said.
"Third floor." Amroth declared as we made it to the landing. It was basically the same as the one on the second floor, and this time we headed for the right hallway first.
"Okay, definitely our room." Aunt Carrie declared as we entered the first room.
It was wallpapered with a diamond pattern in white and black, with the typical queen sized bed and fireplace across from it, and one small table and two chairs. The floor was carpeted with white, and the bed was painted white along with the black table and chairs, while the fireplace was topped with white marble and the ceiling fan was gold painted with crystal baubles. The attached bathroom was decorated in similar fashion.
"I'd say." Elíl remarked.
The next room was claimed by the Ronaldson twins. It was painted with blue stucco and had two beds that were set up on large platforms in either far corner of the room which also held a small, low desk. Stairs led up to each platform, and the fireplace on the opposite wall was stark white stone. There was a ceiling fan that was imitation wood.
"It's uncanny how much this house mirrors all of us." My mother shook her head.
"The Valar are to blame." I quipped, and they chuckled at me.
"Oh, Tyelko!" Telvo exclaimed, and said elf had to smile in agreement. The whole room was in cream, with an interesting bed. The wooden bed was set high off the ground and had wooden stairs leading up to it, but underneath on all four sides was an intricately designed iron grate with a hinged door. The fireplace was white, but the carpet was red, as were the drapes over the window. A study desk and chair of wood was there as well.
I gaped at the bed. "Oh Valar, all we need to do is take out one side of the bars and put in lots of pillows-"
"And it'll be a wolf house!" Mairon finished eagerly.
"Whoa. You're right." Tyelko said thoughtfully.
The next room was a bathroom in similar decor to Tyelko's room. But the very next room was definitely Amroth's.
"Definitely yours." Dad poked him, and he smiled complacently.
"I won't disagree." He said amusedly.
The wallpaper was amber colored and the carpet was tan, while the fireplace was stained light brown. The wood bed was high and large, with a footstool placed beside it to get up. The drapes were deep gold, and the ceiling fan was silver and gold, while the desk and pair of chairs were also a light brown color. Very pleasantly cool altogether. The attached bathroom was large enough for two despite the one sink and bath.
Then we all went to the left hallway. "This is where the two studies and one library is." He said, and pushed the first heavy oaken door open.
That room proved to be the library, as the walls and walls of shelves proved. The high ceiling had two wooden fans, and everything in the room was wooden. The floor was carpeted with a few Persian rugs, and there were several velvet-covered couches. The shelves/walls were completely empty, but we knew that it wouldn't be too much of a problem to fill them.
"Ohmyvalar it even has rolling ladders!" Lir squawked, doing a happy pirouette as we laughed with her. And the bookcases did have ladders leaned against them to reach the highest shelves with wheels on the bottom. There were glassed cases as well. Red drapes hid the windows from sight. A large fireplace the size of a desk dominated the far wall.
The next two studies were exactly alike, with wood-paneled walls and large fireplaces, red drapes, velvet-covered furniture, and two large desks with matching chairs. The floors were covered with Turkish rugs, and two fans made of wood were in the ceiling.
"Last floor, and then we'll have to unpack and go shopping for the kitchen." Elíl said, and led the way to the last floor.
On the far left end there was a small bedroom with a simple cot, window, and small table with one lone chair. There was no fireplace, but there was a small wardrobe on the wall where the fireplace normally would have been. The walls were white and floor carpeted in brown. Obviously, it was a guest room.
The next room was the crafting room, which was filled with chests, shelves, and desks as well as chairs to go with them. The walls were pale blue with sky blue carpeting as well and a small ceiling fan and window with white drapes.
The last two rooms were a bathroom and a storage room. The bathroom was small and had a small shower stall, while the storage room was rather large and had lots of space for many things.
"Well. We took a whole hour and a half just looking over the house. I'd say it's time for unpacking and shopping." Elíl said briskly, and we walked downstairs, everyone chatting happily with someone else.
I was very happy. After all, it's not everyday you get such a great house.
...
In a month, we had settled down in the large mansion- excuse me, Mairon's Manor- and had it all decorated as we liked and eased comfortably into a daily routine; along with Uncle Jonathan managing to open up his shop and us to begin renovating the café. It was then that I decided that I wanted to do something. It was at the breakfast table that I finally brought it up.
"Elladan." I stated calmly. He looked up at me with a questioning look, mouth full of food. I spooned porridge into Mairon's mouth as he sat on my lap, happily clutching his ring as usual.
"I would like you to consider allowing me to join the Ohtar en Oionaaru." I said gently, and there was a silence as everyone paused to look at me. I smiled at them faintly.
Dan swallowed in shock and blinked, taking a drink of water. "I- well- it all depends on if- I mean-" he began, and I raised a hand.
"I understand the process of admission, Dan. I am merely asked you to consider it, nothing more, and if I am rejected, then it was not meant to be. As for why I wish this- I cannot say. Perhaps it is an urge, or perhaps it is just my own curiosity." I said with a shrug. Elladan nodded slowly.
"I will see what I can do." He offered, and I nodded in thanks.
"My thanks, Dan." I said with a gentle smile, and he nodded in reply. There was a thoughtful silence before Lir suddenly spoke up.
"You know, speaking of which, I was going to ask you all how we should decorate the café. I mean, all of the renovations are nearly done now, but then comes the decoration part." She said, and the conversation immediately drifted to such subjects.
I caught Glorfindel's glance, though, and he tapped my mind through our marital link. *You feel a need to join?* He asked curiously, but without any rancor.
*I feel that I must make amends with Gordon.* I answered quietly, and he immediately nodded in understanding, giving me a soft look which I returned with a grateful smile.
Mairon listened quietly to the conversation, tugging on my sleeve and asking for another bite of porridge. I smiled down at him and kissed his head fondly as he grinned up at me with an impish giggle. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly.
"What do you think, Míleth?" They looked to me as I looked back up.
"Huh? Sorry, I was off in Valala land somewhere." I said sheepishly as they snickered at me.
"Do you think we should make the café into an Elven look?" Elíl queried. I smiled.
"Sure, if that's the majority vote. I think it only makes sense, after all. We don't want it too fancy, but we don't want it plain jane either." I said, and they nodded.
"How about make it homey?" Nerdanel suggested. "Like an Elven home."
"Good idea, Nadie." My dad remarked. "That'll make it welcoming and visitor-friendly."
"We'll just leave the decorating details to you then, Nana." Káno said with a smile. "Since you're the family mother."
She smiled and nodded demurely, and I stood with Mairon on my hip. "Well, that's settled then. I need to go out and get some groceries for home, so give me your shopping lists and I'll go pick it up while I'm out. Anyone need a ride anywhere?" I asked, stacking up my dishes.
"Leave them, Míleth, it's my turn for morning dishes." Nelyo said, and I nodded.
"Actually, since you're passing by my office would you mind dropping me off?" Amroth asked, pushing himself back from his chair, and I nodded in reply.
"Not a problem." I answered with a smile.
"And us?" Ro said with a grin, while I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah yeah, I'll drop you twins off too." I said dryly, and they laughed before going to clean up. "Be down here in ten minutes!" I yelled after them, and they gave me thumbs-up in reply.
"We seriously need an intercom system in here or something." Lir complained as the rest laughed and scattered to prepare for the day's events. Uncle Jonathan had his own car to go to work with, and Amroth preferred having me drop him off and walking back home at least once a week. My dad had taken on a job as a much-demanded car mechanic in town, while my mother, aunt Carrie, and Nana worked for the daycare/preschool in town. They took care of Pityo and Telvo there too, while Beleg and Maeglin often stayed at home with the other brothers who were busy with sorting out details for the café.
By the time I had dropped off Amroth and the twins, it was already nine in the morning and the town was in a bustle for the day. I enjoyed the leisurely drive to the Walmart in town, smiling as Mairon chirped happily from his car seat in the back. I parked in the lot and climbed out of the car with my wallet and the keys in my pocket, unstrapping Mairon and helping him out.
"What are we supposed to get today?" He asked curiously, grabbing my hand as we walked to the front doors, getting a shopping cart.
I snorted. "Enough to fill a few carts I'm sure." I said dryly as he giggled. And I was right. By the time we made it to the cashier, I had filled three carts of stuff as I looked down at them dubiously.
"Whoa, lots of shopping today, huh?" The cashier asked me in his clipped accent. I grinned.
"Yep, apparently so. I'm not even sure if my family needs all of this stuff." I sighed, and he looked up at me with twinkling eyes.
"Oh well. According to Dr. Roy they tend to be fastidious." He grinned.
I raised an eyebrow at his obvious knowledge of me. "Oh, so my nephew's been telling tales, has he?" I replied jokingly as he laughed.
"Apparently so, ma'am." He answered.
"Just Celine will do, thanks." I said dryly. "They don't necessarily call me aunt either."
He chuckled. "Of course, Celine. And this young man is?" He looked at Mairon, who immediately answered.
"Annatar." He answered promptly.
"Ah." The young man- Justin by his name tag- nodded. "Very good to finally meet you, master Annatar." He said, and Mairon giggled.
"Ya!" He said happily.
"So you work here part time?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, just to pay for my food and stuff. It's an easy job and pays enough." He shrugged. "I'm not suffering compared to others, so I'm happy enough." He said, and I nodded in understanding.
"I can see that." Was my only remark.
"Will that be cash, check, or credit?" Justin asked mechanically, and I handed over the credit card that had been given to the older people of the house.
"I hate shopping for this lot of people." I mock-grumbled as I loaded bags into the groaning carts. "They're always so picky." I scowled slightly as he chuckled.
"I can see that happening." He remarked, and a sudden thought struck me as I looked back at him.
"You're Dan's good friend, aren't you? The one who was his roommate in the first semester he studied there? He spoke of you." I said curiously, and he nodded and smiled.
"Yep. I was also the one of the ones who were most open to the idea of- him." He shrugged, and I nodded with a faint smile.
"Ah, I see." I answered with vague amusement. "Well, I hope to see you again sometime soon, Justin- apart from here." I finished with a snort, and he chuckled.
"Me too, Celine. See you later, and have a great day." He wiggled fingers in Mairon's direction, who giggled and waved back from his place behind me. I started pushing the carts gingerly away from the counter when a passing worker paused and looked at me.
"Need some help?" She offered, and I gave her a grateful smile.
"Yes, thank you, if you would be so kind." I answered, and she nodded before taking a cart and pushing it towards the door. Mairon whimpered as he jogged after.
"Onónë!" He whined, and I paused to swing him onto my hip.
"Relax little brother, you're fine." I murmured, and he clutched his ring tightly.
"A cute little brother you've got there." The lady remarked, and I smiled.
"Why, thank you. His name is Annatar." I said, and she nodded thoughtfully.
"Funny, isn't that name Finnish?" She queried, and I frowned.
"I'm actually not too sure. I think it might have Finnish roots, though." I hazarded, and she nodded.
"Yeah." By then we reached the parking lot, and I guided us to our van.
"Thanks for all your help." I said, and she nodded before waving and jogging away.
"Just doing my job." She laughed, and I began to load the stuff in. Then strapping Mairon into his car seat, headed back home.
When we finally got back, Tyelko and Nelyo came out to help me as I unloaded, with Mairon running in to go to his room. I suddenly frowned as we finished unloading, and shut the trunk.
"I'm going to check on Beleg and Maeglin." I called, and they nodded as I went up the stairs to their room. I knocked, and there was a giggle as someone called 'enter.' Opening the door, I peeked in to see both of them sitting in their hammock-chairs and reading. They looked up at me and leaped up, and I smiled.
"Hey there you two. Why don't you come down and help me unpack and grab a snack?" I asked, and they nodded as they left their books.
The next few hours were spent busily in unpacking and restocking the kitchen, cleaning up a few rooms, preparing for dinner, and going over decoration plans with Nelyo, Káno, Tyelko, and Moryo. Lir and Elíl had gone to the daycare with Nerdanel, Carrie, and my mother to look after Telvo and Pityo, so there was no one else home. Drago and Saphira and the pups bounded around on all four floors, slipping and sliding about on the polished hardwood floors and between legs.
Finally everyone returned home, and the preparations for dinner began. There was to be a serious talk now that we had basically settled in and were preparing to open Elf Café, and everyone had started getting sleeping schedules and home schedules sorted out.
After a flurry of dinner and small talk, everyone slowly gathered in the living room, choosing couches and large chairs to sit in. Glorfindel, returning from a day at Jonathan's shop to learn more of 'mortal ways,' dragged me into a love seat with him, and Esgal bounded into my lap with a contented growl. I cuddled the wolf pup before Elíl finally spoke up.
"Well, if everyone's here..." She paused as everyone paid attention, and then went on. "We've now basically settled into a tentative routine, and we're getting close to opening Elf Café. All it needs is decoration and supplies, but everything else is ready. Amroth works in his job everyday as well as the twins, Ivy, and my Dad, along with my mom, aunt Joy, Naneth, and Uncle David, and the rest of us are just waiting for the café to open. So, it's about time to talk about it. First of all, any questions?" She opened the floor for anyone to take, and Nelyo spoke up.
"Are we planning to work on shifts?" He queried, and Elíl nodded.
"Yes. In fact, why don't we work out shifts now?" She suggested, and everyone agreed. So we managed to draw up a timetable that basically allowed three total shifts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
"Now I have a question." Uncle Jonathan said. "I'm a bit confused as to the means by which we'll find the 'lost' elves." He said, cooking his fingers over the word.
Elíl nodded to me as I explained. "Website." I immediately said. "Every establishment needs a website. We can easily use Tengwar as a supposedly decorative flourish to the page, but in reality it could be a message calling for all elves to come here." I answered, and he nodded thoughtfully.
"I can see that." He mused.
"And what about you?" My dad suddenly said shrewdly, and I raised an eyebrow. "Don't think we haven't noticed that you three have been rather cagey about your own purpose in being here." He said in a nonjudgmental way, and I smiled thinly.
"There are some things that are not meant to be known by any other than us, Dad. We have our side purposes, yes." Was all I said in a decidedly cool tone, and the topic was dropped uncomfortably.
"And when will the Café be actually ready to open?" Carrie asked curiously.
"In about a week or so?" Elíl looked to Lir, who nodded.
"The construction guys assured me that it would be ready sometime next week." She answered.
"Good." I said. "Anymore confusions or questions?"
There was a general negative response, so Amroth spoke up. "What of the Ohtar en Oionaaru?" He asked, and Elrohir took that up.
"Yeah, where exactly does the café fit in with that?" He asked.
"This." Lir replied, and handed over the official papers for the café over to him. He took it and read, then raised an eyebrow.
"So the café was created in the name of the school." He said curiously. "What does that mean?" He asked, and I grinned.
"It means that now you have a plausible excuse for making this boot-camp slash club as Elven as you want, along with the right to say that it is a unique, copyrighted organization that cannot be reproduced anywhere in the world without your explicit permission as the founder." I answered, and there was a stunned silence.
"Well boys, looks like you're officially official." Ivrinel interjected flippantly, and there was a burst of laughter.
The twins stammered thanks, which was waved off, and then Elladan looked to me. "I had a vision earlier today." He said bluntly. "You passed with flying colors."
I raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "Well I never did say I was perfect, but thank you." I said, and he blushed as they laughed.
"I'd say the only one that comes even close to perfect in here is Glorfindel." Ecthelion commented off-handedly, and Glorfindel smiled smugly as the rest howled.
"So, looks like I'm an official student." I said dryly. "When do I have to be there, and what are my classes?" I queried.
"I thought you'd be a teacher." Elrohir looked nonplused, and I smiled.
"Suspicious, don't you think? How would I know what you teach exactly? No, I think I'll at least sit in on several classes before considering becoming a teacher." I said with a slight laugh, and they nodded.
"Well, there are the classes for martial arts, archery, fencing and swordsmanship, which are more like classes for personal interest, while the mandatory classes are for tourism such as etiquette, woodland safety and guide, first aid, cooking, and language. There are also optional classes for Sindarin for those interested." Elladan stated, and I nodded.
"Well, let me take the mandatory classes and look in on the Sindarin, but I'll for sure choose martial arts and swordsmanship. I'll be interested in learning more about fencing for the sake of this-" I tapped Glorfindel's pin- "and martial arts I want to see how you handle that, as I am a resident expert." I smiled at the chagrined looks that were exchanged as the rest chortled.
"Of course. If you wouldn't mind, I'm sure we would welcome you as a teacher in martial arts even while you're a student. We're not experts at it, and neither is the teacher we have now. The students are at the basics, though, so you'd be a Godsend." Elrohir shook his head, and I nodded.
"Well, we'll see, won't we?" I smiled, and then stretched.
"Whelp, looks like I'll get to learn to be a tour guide for a living." I winked, and they laughed at the thought. "How long is the course?" I queried.
"Really it depends on the student. Some don't take mandatory classes like first aid and woodland safety because they're already certified for it. So they get to graduate faster than the others." Elrohir answered, and I nodded thoughtfully.
"My license for first aid is up-to-date as well as Elíl, but I'd take the woodland classes. And probably the cooking classes will be unnecessary for me." I grinned. "I can make cookies and sweets well enough, thank you."
"Well, it's settled then." Amroth concluded with a smile, but Lir spoke up.
"Actually it isn't. I wanted to ask Ivy about her job." She said, and Ivy smiled shyly.
"What would you like to know?" She asked softly, and Lir smiled.
"Well where do you work and what do you do?" She replied, and Ivrinel pursed her lips.
"Well, I work in the library here in Wiseman. It's actually surprisingly big, and there's a lot of people who come from all over North America for the older documents that are kept here about the native ancestors of this area. It's almost like a museum at the same time, actually, and we're rather short of experienced hands. The responsibility has almost unconsciously fallen on my shoulders, as all of the other three workers are in on the open secret." She shook her head with a slight frown. "The mayor is sympathetic towards us, partially thanks to his thirteen year old son who is infatuated with anything Lord of the Rings." She grinned at us as we chuckled.
"I will entirely sympathize." I smirked.
"Would you mind if I joined?" Lir queried. "I used to work in a bookstore when I lived here on earth- Barnes and Noble in fact. My base was in New York." She smiled, and Ivrinel nodded.
"It would be really appreciated, especially since you've had experience." She answered, and it was settled.
"I'll never forget when I went to get Lir." I said with a dreamy smile. "The rainy bus stop, the street gang confrontation... You know, Lir struck me as being beautiful even then, actually. Although, it might have to do with the ethereal quality of rain." I smiled, and Lir laughed embarrassedly as Káno dragged her close with an adoring look.
"You're too kind, Míleth." She blushed, and I sniffed.
"Kindness has nothing to do with it. You were beautiful even then, wasn't she Drago?" I retorted facetiously, and Drago looked up lazily from his place in front of the fireplace to nod and plop back down with a clear sigh. I tsked as they sniggered. "Lazybones." Drago glared in reply. Esgal squirmed on my lap as I stroked him.
"And I wanted to ask Amroth if he has any need for a secretary." Elíl said with a shy smile, and Amroth looked surprised.
"I do, actually. If you could, I would welcome it." He answered, and Elíl giggled.
"My pleasure. So boss, what's my paycheck?" She asked wickedly as Amroth looked amused and the rest burst into roars. "Just kidding, I just like mathematics." She smiled.
"Well, I sense it's bedtime." Mom said, smiling down at a dozing Telvo. And indeed, the younger ones looked sleepy and were yawning.
"I think so too." Ecthelion's voice was suddenly deeper than usual, and Elíl looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her up as everyone pointedly ignored the implication.
"As do I." Glorfindel's voice whispered huskily in my ear, and I looked up, wide-eyed, to see that his eyes were dark and his pupils dilated.
"After I put Mairon and Maeglin and Beleg to bed." I bartered, and he smiled wolfishly.
"But of course." He answered, and I stifled a sigh before sketching my good nights to everyone and herding my little brothers and son upstairs.
"Good night, Ada." Beleg called sleepily, and Glorfindel chuckled.
"Good night, yonya. Sleep well." Was the reply, and I smiled as I put them all to bed.
Within moments, they were tucked in, lights out, and asleep, while I made my way to my room, yawning and dressing myself in a nightshift as I slipped into the room. Glorfindel was waiting for me, and he waited until I was in bed before drawing me closer.
"Are you sure about it?" He murmured, asking about joining the school, and I smiled.
"Yes." I answered simply, and he gave me a shrewd look before nodding.
"As you wish." He answered, and then nuzzled my shoulder.
"It's been too long..." He said huskily, and I blushed.
"Glorfindel..."
"Say it." He purred in my ear, and I gave in.
"Laurëfindel." I whispered. The answer I was given was wordless.