A Sweet Child

The garden was quiet, and yet the air was filled with life and sound. The very air made A'numireth want to sing. The flowers, the birds, everything was worthy of attention. The elfling trotted with silent steps through the garden, her hair tossed back by the breeze, her hands free at her sides touching lightly the leaves and petals, her face radiant in the light of the sun.

At last, the bushes came to a slight stop and A'numireth halted. She saw now that she had reached a courtyard, with a fountain in the middle. There, the birds came to bathe and drink and the child watched them from a distance. She went about the courtyard, trying to find which way she had come, but she couldn't orient herself properly. Her flower crown was tipping over one side of her head and she clumsily tried to set it right.

Wondering where Hensilith or her father were, the child came to a corridor that led into the house of the prince. Not knowing this, A'numireth strolled inside, wanting for someone to find her and take her back home.

Everything inside the house was still and quiet and most of the doors were closed. Tall white pillars were lined orderly in groups here and there. The windows were tall and airy, with light curtains making the bright sunlight filter through them in gentle hues.

A'numireth came to a door that had been left slightly ajar and she stood beside the doorway listening to whoever was talking inside.

A few voices whispered and hushed each other inside the room. Another voice was heard over them, there was a concerned tone to it,

"You must rest Roka," said the voice that sounded every inch like the ruler that it belonged to.

"I am fine," another voice said over the hushed chatter, sounding not fine at all. But there was steel and stubbornness in it that A'numireth herself (even though she didn't fully understand who was talking or what was the discussion about) wondered if the commanding voice would be able to make the other yield.

"Fine indeed," the first voice snorted, "I was foolish enough to allow you to ride through the city gates, even though you nearly fell off the horse about a dozen times. But now you will listen to me and allow yourself some much needed rest,"

These words were met with silence.

"I know this is difficult for you indur," the first voice said gently, "I can't even imagine what you've experienced, but please know that…what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

There was a chuckle and the stubborn voice spoke,

"You haven't changed Tur," said the voice, sounding amused, "always so stern and serious-"

Right then, the voice broke into harsh coughs and the first voice sighed. Footsteps were heard and water being drawn from a pitcher onto a glass. After a few moments, the coughs subsided and the commanding voice spoke up again.

"I'm glad you still have the energy to mock my concern for you," it said, sounding fond and worried at the same time.

"Your concern is appreciated," the other replied, sounding tired and a bit hoarse "but sometimes unnecessary,"

"It is completely necessary," there was the sound of a chair scraping slightly on the floor, and some footsteps through the room "since you don't know how to concern yourself with your own well being. Now, you can rest willingly or unwillingly, which one will it be?"

There was a groan and the tired voice spoke again,

"Fine, I'll rest,"

"Good," there was a soft noise, like a bottle set down on a table and there was a moment of silence, before someone walked towards the door and halted for a few more seconds, "I am glad you're back Roka, the lords will be very happy to hear of your return,"

"Thank you iher," said the other, "I am glad to be back as well,"

The door opened completely and through it walked a tall ellon (one of the tallest A'numireth had ever seen). His dark hair came down to his waist and a silver circlet went around head. His travel clothes were slightly dirty and disarranged, as if he hadn't had the time to change. His face was fair and noble, with a straight nose and piercing blue eyes. His features were angular, as if he had been carved with a chisel. And he seemed regal even in his slightly dishevelled state.

A'numireth shrank against the wall, trying to disappear. The tall elf lingered in the doorway for a moment, he nearly turned his eyes in the elfling's direction. Luckily she wasn't spotted and the tall elf turned to walk down the corridor.

When he was out of sight, A'numireth let her curiosity get the best of her and peered into the room to see who else was inside the room. Three elves, dressed in pale blue and cream white clothes were busy, around a table, possibly healers by the colours and style of their clothes. In the bed, a broad shouldered ellon sat, propped up on several cushions.

His hair was a bit short and matted, his face was pale and he looked rather unhealthy at the moment. But what stood out to A'numireth about his appearance, was the bright scars that rested on the upper left part of his face and at the left of his neck and cheek. In a way, the scars made him look intimidating, but A'numireth was too intrigued to be afraid.

The ellon, was watching the healers discuss in hushed tones. His eyes suddenly catched the silhouette of the elfling poking her head through the door. Her pale grey eyes were fixed on him.

A'numireth was a bit startled when she realised she had been discovered, but her innocent curiosity encouraged her to step further into the room. The door didn't even creak, and she simply stared at the elf with a questioning glance.

The elf that was still sitting in the bed smiled slightly. A'numireth smiled back, more confidently than usual, and came forward, till she was standing near the bed. She saw that the ellon's eyes were a bit sad, so she undid some flowers from her head and held them out, for the elf.

"Thank you little one," the ellon said, his smile growing, as he took the flowers from her hand, "what is your name?"

A'numireth hesitated, the other elves had heard the ellon and had turned to see who he was talking to, only to stare in shock at the elfling that had apparently shown up out of nowhere.

"Numi…" whispered A'numireth, trying to hide her mouth with her hands.

The ellon inclined his head and saluted her,

"Well met Numi, my name is Roka,"

A'numireth smiled at the ellon, but she kept glancing back at the healers that were in different stages of surprise and bewilderment. They kept whispering urgently to each other, as if they were unsure of what to do with the elfling that had so unsuspectedly shown up in the healing chamber.

"How did she get in here?" one of the healers asked in a whisper. The others retorted only by glancing confusedly at each other.

"We cannot let her stay," other said finally, "Her Roka needs to rest,"

Rog scoffed at this and turned his face away from the healers to make a face at A'numireth, rolling his eyes at the healers behind him. The elfling giggled and came closer to the bed, now, ignoring the elves' whispering. Her hands pointing up at Rog's short auburn brown hair. She was puzzled by it. Most elves she had seen let their hair grow, at least below their shoulders. But this ellon bore his sleek hair above his jaw line.

"Ah yes little one," Rog said, almost as if he knew what the elfling was thinking, "my hair had to be cut short, it was not a very pretty sight,"

"Will i' grow?" A'numireth asked in a whisper.

Rog smiled and nodded solemnly,

"Yes child, it will grow," he said, feeling soothing hope that refreshed his heart like water over dry land.

A'numireth watched him with earnest interest, her grey eyes wide with curiosity. Her hand came now to rest on her cheek. Signalling at Rog's face. The elfling's eyes watered and her expression fell at the sight of the bright burnt marks that he had near his right eye and the left side of his neck, and his bandaged hands and arms.

"Hurt?" She asked in such a small voice, that Rog had to wonder if he had imagined it.

"Sometimes it hurts," he answered truthfully, "but not too much anymore,"

Before A'numireth could react to Rog's answer, someone called her name from the door. It was Hensilith, looking rather flustered.

"There you are you little-" he stopped himself before uttering another word, when he recognized Rog. He turned suddenly pale and then his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Composing himself from his shock, he inclined his head and offered a greeting to the elf lord that was still in the bed looking very amused.

"Well met lord Roka," Hensilith hesitated on his next words, "what…a pleasant surprise,"

Rog dismissed Hensilith's wide eyes and shocked expression and merely returned the greeting with naturality.

"Well met young one," Rog smiled fondly, "I see you have been looking for Numi,"

"Yes iher," Hensilith answered, coming closer to pick up the elfling, "I apologise if her arrival was untimely. I am responsible for it,"

"Not at all," Rog stopped Hensilith's apology, "her timing was nearly perfect I should say, she is a very sweet child,"

Hensilith smiled and his shoulders relaxed if only a bit, as he bounced the elfling in his arms,

"Indeed iher," he said. A'numireth put her arms around his neck, and smiled, oblivious of the conversation and toying with the flowers that had remained on Hensilith's hair. The fair haired elf noticed with a bit of discomfort that A'numireth was rather cold to the touch, and he instinctively pulled her closer.

The healers took Hensilith's arrival as a chance and very politely asked him to take their leave, stating that Lord Rog needed all the rest he could possibly get. As the fair haired elf hurried out of the room, muttering a few apologies to the healers, A'numireth waved goodbye to Rog, with her nose and mouth hidden behind Hensilith's shoulder. Rog returned the wave and he scrunched his eyes in a playful manner so that A'numireth's eyes shone with the smile that spread over her partly hidden face.

When they were on their way back to the gardens, Hensilith gently scolded A'numireth for sneaking away. But he was aware that she had not intended any harm by it. She was only an elfling after all. What surprised him was that A'numireth hadn't fled from the healing room as soon as she saw that it was full of strangers. And instead seemed to have made an acquaintance of the elf lord all by herself.

—- ✧ —-

Meanwhile in the meeting room where the lords and Turgon held their reunion, there was a lot of commotion. The news of Rog's return and the valley that Ulmo had gifted them, it all proved to be rather overwhelming. But they were glad and it seemed as if the eyes of the Valar were shining over them once more.

Ecthelion and his fellow lords along with their prince discussed long into the evening and night, what was to be done. And the first real plans to build a city among the Encircling Mountains began to take shape.

Translations:

Quenya,

Roka (Rog)

Indur (my friend)

Iher (my lord)

Her (Lord)

Notes: Hello! I'm back! Sorry for taking a month long vacation :/

For this chapter I wanted to point out that Rog has just been returned or rather, rescued from Morgoth and he was taken to Turgon's house to recover. I imagine that captives from the black tower had to deal with some injuries and scars that remain for longer than usual in elves, due to the emotional trauma that torture brings.

I could be wrong of course it's just my HC.

But anyway, Rog is not completely given to grief and pain, but he is scarred by what happened to him. A'numireth gets to play a little role in his recovery by subconsciously reminding him that he will be hale again.

I was thinking that maybe I should introduce A'numireth with Turgon, Aredhel and Idril, but I don't know yet. I was also thinking I could end this part of the story soon and get on with the next part which would now take place in A'numireth's early teens.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to listen to them :)