I still don't own LotR or Natsume J
Hey everybody! Thanks to all reviewers again! I don't know how to express how excited I get when I see a review! It really makes me feel motivated J Also I am on holiday right now which is why I can update so often, but I will soon be returning to my job and I may have to update a bit less. Don't worry though I will still try to everyday, it may just happen to be every other day or every third day L Any way here's the chap!
The entire room quieted as the doors slowly opened to reveal Estel and the mysterious elfling. For a minute all stared and Natsume fidgeted and hid behind Estel's leg, once again clutching at his clothing but then the hall quickly picked up to the easy chatter it was before and the child became calmer, no longer the center of attention. They were still shot a few curious looks, and many smiled at them fully as they walked by, but it was no longer uncomfortable. To Natsume's surprise and great joy the twins were in the room, but were eating quietly. They took a seat next to the two brothers who grinned at their arrival. Natume was sat between Estel and Elladan and although there were many strange elves sitting at the table with them he was no longer nervous. The brothers were like a shield for him, and he began to fill his plate quietly. The feast laid before him filled him with awe, several types of crusty bread still warm from the oven, fresh exotic fruits and smoky roasted meats, the smells filled the air heavenly and Natsume's stomach growled loudly. He helped himself to a tiny portion of everything glancing at everyone to make sure he wasn't doing anything wrong and nibbled his meal in small bites. The flavors exploded as they touched his tongue, sweet and salty, the meat melted in his mouth and each bite was a different experience. The elves sure knew how to put a meal together; he wished his food would last forever!
He finished his small plate, and his tummy grumbled for more, he ignored it; I would not pig out when the people here had been so kind to me. The attention they paid him and concern for his illness was more than he got from all the relatives he had stayed with put together. Maybe if he only ate a little and did everything he was told he would get to stay in this magical place. There was no pain here and every pair of eyes that happened to meet his was warm and happy to see him, there was no disgust and no annoyance. He was startled out of his thoughts as Elladan quickly filled his plate again.
"You must eat more than that, little one, if you are to gain your strength and weight back," he told me kindly. And for some reason this almost had me in tears again, he had a sad look in his eyes when he set the now full plate down in front of me. I ate every bite; my stomach for the first time I can remember was full and warm. It was almost overwhelming how comfortable and content I now felt, all three brothers smiled at me reassuringly and I smiled lazily back. Elrohir stood up and slowly reached for me, I allowed him to pick me up, I wasn't sleepy but I was so cozy I did not care to move and he had offered. Estel and Elladan both stood as well and we began to move towards the exit of the breakfast hall.
"Where are we going?" I asked Ellrohir, and I allowed the more childish part of me to gently play with his dark silky hair, marvelling at the texture.
"We are going to go visit Ada in his study, he has a few questions for you, little one," he calmly replied as if it was nothing big. But his words filled me with a small dread, for questions sounded a lot like interrogation and what if he did not like the answers he received? Would I still be showed the same kindness, or would I be asked to leave? I shivered slightly at the thought of wandering the forest alone forever, unwanted by all, after having a small taste of the warmth and kindness here the thought seemed torturous. Elrohir looked at me questioningly and I gave him a wobbly smile but didn't say anything. I buried my head in his chest and listened to his heart beating, I would allow myself to be selfish for the moment, if I was forced to leave at least I had gotten every drop of comfort I could before I left.
Elrohir's point of view
The child looked the most peaceful he had ever saw him, he had a rosy glow to his cheeks and his eyes were calm and content. I reached over to pick him up and he stretched out his arms to aid me. A part of me sang at his easy acceptance, and I held him protectively to my chest. A small hand began to play with my hair, never pulling or tugging, just gently fiddling with the ends. I smiled at the little child, amazed at the level of comfort he now had with me.
"Where are we going?" he asked me eyes and voice curious, and I told him that we were going to go visit Ada, to hear his story and find out where he had come from. The little one stiffened in my arms and he shivered, his eyes glowing with fear, I looked at him concerned. He tried to give me a little smile but it came out as more of a grimace, finally he relaxed a bit burying his face in my clothes as if trying to hide from the world. I do not know why he suddenly retreated so, he had met my father before and seemed fine afterwards, why was he suddenly so frightened? We arrived at Ada's study, and I held the child even closer hoping to reassure him as we opened the door and went inside. He was sitting behind his desk once again, and smiled largely when we came in; he gave us a cheerful greeting and brought over chairs so we may sit as well. I sat the child in his own chair although his expression now seemed a little bit lost. Elladan and I shared a look, the child was frightened every time he was put into a new situation, it was sad the boy was so fearful when everything new should have filled him with anticipation and joy. Natsume fidgeted in his chair and looked at Estel, Estel smiled at him kindly before Elrond finally spoke.
"Natsume, I am glad to see you well, I trust you enjoyed your breakfast?" at Nastume's nod he continued "Good! Good, now we shall get to the heart of the matter, you are very young and to be left alone in the woods is no small thing…How did you come to be there, and I know this may be hard but what happened to your parents?"
With a weary sigh Natsume began to speak. He told of how his mother had died shortly after he had been born and how his father lost in grief, followed soon after. He spoke of how he had been taken in by kind-hearted but distant relatives, who couldn't really afford to keep him, had in fact been a hindrance to them, and of how he had been passed around person to person. As he spoke a twinge of self-loathing entered his voice, sometimes he would stay as short as a month, others a couple of years, but always he would move on. I was horrified by his tale, although he spoke of how "kind-hearted" these people were, there was not a spark of love in his eyes as he described them. This in itself painted a very different picture, he told of all they had given him but his expression told another story, of what these people had not given to him, definitely not love, probably not even acceptance. There was a moment, a pause in his story were he lightly touched his ribs, as if recalling something unpleasant and I had to repress a shiver, what else besides "kindness" had these people given him?
All three elves, plus Estel were frowning, all too perceptive to not hear what was being left unsaid. "And how did you come to be alone in the forest, if at last you were safe with relatives?" Elrond asked.
Natsume hesitated before he began to speak again, he looked to be unsure and confused. "I don't know…" he replied in a quiet voice "…the last thing I remember I was walking home, and then there was nothing, I woke in the forest…It was mostly peaceful there except the night of the monsters, but I got tired of walking, and then you found me." He explained softly. My heart filled with dread, monsters? He must have had a close encounter with the orcs we had been tracking, he was lucky to be alive let alone uninjured, for if he had been caught it would have been a slow painful death for the elfling. And the child must have been knocked out somehow and left in the forest to die by his "kind" relatives.
"Would you like us to find your relatives for you?" Elladan asked he seemed to be trying to figure something out; the child furiously shook his head before he caught himself and gave a polite "no thank you." But his frantic rejection of the idea added another piece of the puzzle to the child's care.
"I see…Thank you child for sharing what must have been a difficult story with us. You have been very brave to persevere through such difficult and scary situations especially as young as you are. We have called a meeting with the other elven lords, who shall soon be arriving to share the news of your arrival; know that you are welcome to stay for as long as you wish in Rivendell. But if you choose to go to another elvish community remember that you will always have a place here with us as well." Elrond concluded his voice sympathetic.
Natsume looked shocked and confused. I realized he hadn't fully believed Estel's kind words in the forest that he would be welcomed amongst the elves and would be allowed to stay unless he wished otherwise.
"T-That, That's it? That's all you need from me, I can stay? You want me to stay? I am not a burden to you?" his voice trembled and he began to laugh abruptly as tears streamed down his face for a second time without warning. It was frightening to see a child so young hysterical like this. It was not like the crying of earlier, soft sobs and hiccups, but a harsh laughing accompanied by tears. The sound was harsh and almost bitter and amongst the laughing was his voice "me?" he kept asking frantically, "you want me to stay?" eyes and voice both filled with disbelief as if nobody could ever want him. Over and over he repeated the question until my heart could not take it. I snapped out of my shock at the same as Elladan, and we both rushed to the child. Estel who had been sitting closer was already there hugging the child and whispering reassurances, as he had the first night, it was a wonder the child had not simply let himself fade.
Elrond was still frozen behind his desk, like a marble statue caught forever in a state of horror. I embraced both Estel and the child, Elladan mirroring me once again on the other side; we hid the boy from view as if we could act as a shield from his memories. The boy clutched at us, and slowly calmed, eventually he fell asleep the small episode exhausting him. Even unconscious his grip did not falter and he clutched Estel's clothes as if afraid to let go. Tears again trickled down our faces, the second time in the span of only a few days. How much joy it was to have an elfling amongst us again and how much it hurt to see him in so much pain, like a double-edged sword, a bittersweet contrast of emotion.
Estel did not say a word as he nodded to Ada and silently left with the elfling, presumably to put him to bed, where he would be most comfortable. The study was quiet for a moment before Elladan broke the silence "The child obviously believes what he was told by his "relatives" was true, but he is an elfling and no elf would have let him go if he had reached them, it is obvious whoever raised him was not kin of any kind. He must have been taken in by some other creatures like we suspected but at a very young age. Whether or not his parents actually died the way his kidnappers explained is a mystery, but despite this he has somehow made it back to his own people and with us he will stay. Never again will he be passed around like some cheap toy or bauble, to be discarded again at will, here he will be loved like the treasure he is."
Hey just want to tell you guys that Natsume does remember how he came to be in the forest but could say, "oh i hated my old life and was sent her by a dimension witch and then turned into an elfling." so he gave a little lie and let them come to their own connclusions :P Hope you enjoyed