Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: M

Couples: Canon Ones

Warnings: AU

Chapter: 12

Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me

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"Hi!" The tiny voice echoed back to them, and Elrond tilted his head some. "Can I pile you on my sister!?"

He looked at the father of the young Ainur, resisting the grin he could feel pulling at his mouth-corners.

"At least she's polite?" He offered, but then his face fell a bit. "Why did she object so strongly about your looks though, Mithrandir?"

"Well, I did use to look a good bit younger and a great deal more fair than this when last she saw me." The Maia shrugged lightly.

"Many Valar have opinions about their Maia, Elrond." Namó politely kept to the Sindarin they had switched to, though some of his senses seemed elsewhere even as they spoke. "And as said, this was dealt with faster than Melian."

"But...?"

"Maia only ever have one Vala, barring thievery by Morgoth." Mithrandir explained. "To the last, you can assume that Maia who followed several Valar do so because they have to approximate their connection, in the absence of their Vala." He briefly brushed a hand over his beard, or more likely his heart.

"She...?"

"My Valie." The old form grinned widely. "Not sure you can notice the similarities?"

"I wish she were more like you." The Vala pointed out, though whether he was joking or serious was another question entirely.

"It's accurate, at least?" The three of them headed after the two girls, finding the dark-clad one under the two river-otters, while the bright-clad one was carrying Elladan over her shoulders like the world's biggest stole. Her tiny hands supported his front and back so only the tip of his tail dragged over the ground.

He squeaked in confusion at his father, clearly disconcerted that a child half his weight and probably height was carrying him like it was nothing.

"I can't help but notice you kept the fluffiest one for yourself." Her father declared evenly.

"Nah, he's for you!" She bounced over, lifting up the comparatively giant otter in offering. "Can I claim him as my elf? I want an elf like Ossë and Uinen!"

"Good grief." Namó, one of the Aratar, accepted the otter, adjusting him in his arms. "Though I suppose he does fit you."

"Right!?" Mellissë beamed, before turning her attention to Elrond. "Or maybe I should just claim the whole family!"

"You can't claim a whole family." Mithrandir, apparently one of her Maiar, chuckled as the grown Vala headed over to his other daughter to sit down and add the last otter to her pile. Much like her sister, she seemed unconcerned with the weight.

"Can!" She pouted up at him. "The House of Hador basically IS me already!"

"I mean... that is valid." He snorted, looking at his friend, who was still trying to process that there would have to be some adjusted books now. "But no."

"Hey, who's the Vala here!?" Her pout intensified.

"Remember the whole talk you got?" The other Vala called over, fingers deep in Elladan's ruff. The large, fluffy otter had moved a bit, half in his lap rather than fully on his daughter's flat body like the other two.

She sighed loudly, dramatically and like everything was just not working out for her. "Fiiinneeee..." Now her full attention did turn to the elder Peredhel, who blinked down a few times. "Who of your family do I need to ask to claim you all?"

Elrond looked at her, blinking a few more times. Then he looked up at Mithrandir, who seemed to resist the urge to burst into laughter. "I... well..."

"Pretty sure Tuor started that whole thing?" Her sister pointed out, little hands playing in Arwen's fur.

"Well, then we're getting him next!" The small pink form dashed over, throwing herself at her father. Thankfully, it seemed a well-known move, as he caught her before she could land on the otter in his lap. "Best thing to happen to Eä!"

"Should I be concerned?" The Master of Imladris Rebuild whispered. "Why even does she want us?" Ossë and Uinen had claimed Maglor because they had received a Silmaril from him. This Ainu had only entered Eä a few years ago, at best and therefor could not have received a gift of that magnitude from them. Especially since they had only met her a few minutes ago!

"You do embody her well." His friend assured him. "I am not surprised she enamored with you and yours."

"That was a horrible pun, Olórin!" She called over from where she had burrowed between her father and Elladan, tiny arms wrapped around the fluffy shape.

"Accurate though, my Lady!" He countered with a laugh.

"Still horrible!" She declared vehemently, making a face at him. "'Enamored'... What, do we call Mairon 'hot' instead of good-looking these days?"