Þerindë of the Noldor

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“You are.” She cupped his chin in one hand lightly. “He has never liked to sit still for very long unless there is something very interesting happening, ever since he was smaller than you.”

I seem to be?

...I don’t know where to look.

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

She chuckled and stroked his hair soothingly. “You are very like your father in some ways, Kanafinwe.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“You would look nice anyway,” she said firmly, kissing his cheek. “But you are a prince, dear heart. You should look dignified.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“But you would look so silly...” She laughed and tousled his hair. “You cannot look silly, dear heart.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“I don’t believe it is. We are all made with two arms... where would the others even grow?” She tickled him gently.

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“I don’t know that anyone could play every instrument at once.” She laughed at the thought. “So many of them need two hands to play!”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“Then it will be a lovely surprise for you, won’t it? And when you are older, perhaps you will learn other instruments.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

She laughed and stroked his hair. “Don’t feel the need to show me how to hold your breath, dear. Who is making your flute, do you know? There are some marvellous makers of instruments in the city.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“It’s little enough.” She kissed his cheek, and cupped his chin in one hand, just gazing at him in silence and wondering how she had been so lucky as to see her grandsons. “Do you still keep up with your music?” she asked, after a while.

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

Pressing a kiss to his hair, she smiled slightly. “I will make sure your older brother does not tease you like that any more. It’s not kind for brothers to do that.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“When he says things that are to do with your rest, or food, or anything like that, he is making sure you are safe and healthy. But telling you I don’t love you... that is simply to tease and make you upset.” She leaned back with a quiet sigh. “I will speak to Maitimo. It’s not kind of him to talk like that.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“...No, I’m afraid you do have to listen to him then. He is responsible for making sure you get enough sleep.” It was difficult not to laugh at what he’d just tried to do, though, and she tousled his hair gently.

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

“Oh, my dear.” She couldn’t stifle her smile, and leaned down to stroke his hair. “Of course you should listen when he tells you to do something or not to do something, because he is your older brother and is responsible for keeping you safe. But when he tells you something that will only upset you, you don’t have to believe it. You are loved by all our family, including me.”

“…No, Macalaurë - who has told you this? Of course I love you. You are my son’s son, and I would never abandon you!”

Immediately Míriel’s frown faded to a resigned smile, and she sat down. “Have you two been quarrelling again? Don’t listen to him when he says things like that.”