Chapter XII:

Antien didn't feel like going to the Great Hall for dinner so he decided to work more with his twin blades. He had had little chance to work with them since acknowledging his gift. He traded blows with Elladan knowing that he was reaching his limit a lot faster that he normally would have. Elladan's stance took a sharp turn and Antien lost one of the blades leading to Elladan striking the killing blow.

'I think we better stop there for the night. You look dead on your feet.'

Antien nodded, broke stance, and went to pick up the blade. Glancing down he caught a glimpse of the writing on the hilt and blade. For an instant he could read and understand the writing. He looked again only to realize that the meaning was gone, yet one phrase stuck.

'Elladan?' The elf looked up. 'What does "Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen."mean?'

Antien watched his great-uncle pale slightly. 'Where did you --?' Did Vayna show him those texts that not even his father knows about?

'I read it.'

'Where?'

'The blade.'

Elladan paled even more. 'So near…'

'What are you talking about?'

'Antien!' The two turned at the sound of James' shout. 'You weren't at dinner.'

'I wasn't hungry.'

'Oh.' James smiled. 'Are you hungry now?'

'He should be,' Locien said jumping from the treetop.

'You are certainly your father's son, Locien,' Elladan said. Locien sent him a strange look but didn't respond.

'Antien, you must eat even if you are not hungry.'

'Peace, Locien. I just didn't want to go to the Great Hall. I was going to go to the kitchens and see what the house elves could make me.'

'Be sure that you do,' Locien said smiling. 'Is Dobby still alive?' he asked as if on after thought.

'Afraid not,' James answered. 'But his offspring are,' he added.

… … … … …

Locien would always remember the hyper house elf that once worked for his family and when Dobby worked for them he was slightly freaked out by him, but knowing that he was gone changed things, at least until he met the elves he fathered.

If Dobby was hyper, it was nothing like his children. Locien sent a glare at his student as the young elves danced around him. After James let it slip that Locien knew Dobby the elves just wouldn't leave and he had to endure the questions and amused looks sent from his honorary nephews.

'Are you quite done?' Locien hissed to his student.

"Oh, now you've done it," James said.

'What are you talking – oomph!' Locien was flat on his back with the elves sitting on his chest looking at him with wide eyes.

''You're a speaker?" the smallest elf asked.

"Uh… yes?"

"Don't even think about it," cut in Antien's voice sharply. Each of the elves turned to him with fear in their eyes. "He won't like it and he's not very nice when he's mad."

In tandem the young house elves nodded and climbed off the elf. As they left the kitchens Locien dared to ask what Antien stopped them from doing.

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

… … … … … …

Vayna sat in her classroom waiting for the next class to arrive, while she was not quite strong enough to teach she wanted to help Locien as best she could.

She looked out the window at the spring day wishing she were strong enough to enjoy the sunlight. She wasn't even allowed out of her apartment according to her husband but she was getting stir crazy and needed new surroundings, even if it was only her classroom.

The class slowly filed in the surprise clear on their faces as the happily greeted her. Antien only smiled as he took his place in his favorite chair. Yet she almost laughed when she saw the deer-in-headlights look she got from Locien when he walked in after his students.

'Should you be down here, Naneth?' he whispered knowing only Antien could hear him.

"Probably not, but when has that stopped me before?" she answered smiling.

He only grinned back as he turned to the class. "Welcome back to another day, class, and please welcome back Professor Wyatt who I guess is making sure I am teaching you right." Giggles and chuckles swept through the class.

"Now why would I do that, Professor Galad?" Vayna quipped. "From what I have seen on the essays you assigned you have been doing marvelous."

"Yes, well, I would like to get to my lesson."

"Then please do. Don't mind me."

Locien bowed slightly and turned back to the class. As he went on with the lesson Vayna looked over the class. So many she could see the ingrained evil planted by their parents and she only hoped that the future she saw would change that.

'It won't, not really at least.'

'Antien? What are you doing?'

'Don't worry, privacy spell," he answered.

'You've seen something then?'

'Not really, but I can see what the future holds for individuals and its not pretty even with what will happen with my family.'

'You've seen that then?'

Antien nodded. 'But I won't see it.'

'H-how? How do you know?'

Antien smiled. 'I know, but I don't know how yet.'

'You're getting as bad as Gandalf.'

'I'll take that as a compliment.'

'I'm sure you will,' Vayna said kindly as Locien broke through the spell.

"Listen, Antien, I know you know all this stuff but can you at least feign some interest?"

"Sorry, Professor." Antien whispered a goodbye and went back to his seat and started his work.

"How are you today?" Locien asked.

"Well enough," Vayna answered. "Obviously."

Locien smiled sheepishly. "I know that but I can't help but ask."

"I know, Locien." Vayna stood, slowly, and made her way to the door. "I need to return before Liam finds out I'm not in our rooms."

"You do realize that the rumor will circulate and he'll find out anyway."

"Yes, but it gives me time to think of a good excuse."

Locien laughed, to which Vayna noticed startled the students. "You should laugh more often, Locien. You scared them," she said as she walked out the door. His laugh only got louder.

…

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A/N: I know, I know. I said this was on hiatus and I meant it until I got the inspiration. I credit it to the many favorites and alerts from the site redo. I thank you for all those that have read my stories and I hope you will stick with me.

The story picked up a bit with this chapter and I figure it was needed. The story is nearing it end but not without huge choices to be made by pivotal characters. It was hinted at, but I know you won't know what it is until it happens.

Anyway, thank you for reading and enjoy. Any thoughts are appreciated.

P.S. The elvish? Here it is: "The years have passed like swift draughts of the sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West, beneath the Orange vaults of Varda
wherein the stars tremble in the song of her voice, holy and queenly."

I think when I wrote the scene these lines held a different meaning for me than they do know. the Translation is curtsey of Arwen-Undomiel dot com