#elflings

I did get most stories finished over Christmas. But now...here is a small preview from yet another new story!

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This baby was different! She was a little girl.

Feanor stared at Nerdanel. Then at their new elfling. Then at Nerdanel again. His surprised was almost comical.

“How...did this happen?” he gasped.

Nerdanel gave him a variation of The Look. It was a sort of look that wives give to their husbands, when said husbands are being rather silly.

(Nerdanel, Anaire and Earwen had perfected these particular Looks over the years. Elenwe had not. Elenwe had yet to give Turgon any variations of The Look. Her aunties by marriage and her mother in law patiently waited for the day to arrive).

“Feanor we have had seven children previously,” Nerdanel said. “I would have hoped that you had worked out by now where they actually come from”.

Feanor went red. “I didn’t mean that. I meant…” He sat down on the bed next to Nerdanel. He held his arms out.

Nerdanel smiled as she handed the baby girl to Feanor. He held her so carefully. She gazed up at him with big blue eyes.

“We’ve never had a girl before,” Feanor said. He stroked the elfling’s head gently. She cooed at him and squirmed about.

“Well, now we have,” Nerdanel said. She patted Feanor’s arm. “Are you afraid, love?”

“Of course not!” Feanor blushed again. “I wasn’t afraid of Aredhel”. He looked down at his new baby daughter again. She was trying to eat his hair ribbon.

“...but she was Fingolfin’s baby. And this one is mine!” Feanor ran a finger gently down her cheek, overwhelmed.

Nerdanel chuckled and settled comfortably into her pillow pile. Feanor tried to free his hair ribbon from his daughter’s mouth. She squealed and grabbed it with chubby fingers. The ribbon came loose and Feanor’s silvery hair tumbled about his shoulders.

“Oh! Do you think she is going to be wild?” he asked Nerdanel.

The company stops to rest, though Gandalf needs a break from the dwarves until two princes lost 2 of the ponies then the Kamado Siblings won the heart of a certain lord of Rivendell.

During the pony ride, Gandalf was telling Bilbo that there are a lot of things he has to leave behind and that the world wasn’t in his books, it was outside the Shire.

The journey was long but it was also exciting for the four young elflings, who couldn’t help but admire their new surroundings until they stopped for the night, ate a dinner of stew and went to bed!

The sounds of shrieking was heard, alerting Bilbo who was feeding Myrtle an apple and the four elflings who were asleep in a pile but were frightened by the shrieking “What was that?” Bilbo asked, fearfully looking around “Orcs, throat cutters.” Fili replied making Hanako, Shigeru and Rokuta whimper while clutching to Takeo as Fili and Kili laughed, much to Thorin’s annoyance and anger “You think an orc raid is funny?” He asked, much to Fili’s and Kili’s shame “We didn’t mean anything by it.” Kili said in shame “No, you know nothing of the world.” Thorin said, angrily turning his back “Don’t mind him lads.” Balin said, then began telling the story of what happened after Smaug took Erebor “The pale orc sounds scary Ojiisan Balin” Shigeru said “Oh he is lad.” Balin continued, telling the story about what happened after Smaug took over Erebor “Then what happened, Ojiisan Balin?” Hanako asked curiously “Yes, what happened to the pale orc?” Bilbo asked “The filth crawled into a hole and died of his wounds.” Thorin said, taking a fussy Rokuta into his arms “It’s alright little one.” He said, by gently shushing the toddler who slowly calmed down and fell asleep.

While sleeping, Takeo saw his parents “I’m sorry for leaving you Takeo, please take care of Hanako, Shigeru and Rokuta for me.” Kei weeped, as his father gently placed a hand on his head “Look after your little brothers and sister son, I’m very proud of you.” Tanjuro said with that gentle smile, while Takeo can only tearfully hug them unaware of his tears in the real world much to Gandalf’s and Balin’s worries “What have these sweet elflings been through?” Balin asked the wizard, who can only continue to smoke his pipe.

A few days into the journey, the company is riding through the rain and no one was happy.

As they rode through the forest, multiple grumbling was heard “Here Mister Gandalf, can’t you do something about this deluge?” Dori asked “It is raining, master dwarf! And it will continue to rain until the rain stops.” Gandalf replied as Hanako, Shigeru and Rokuta hid under his grey cloak while being covered by their own cloaks that were brought for them in Bree, along with new tunics, leggings and boots “If you wish to change the weather, then you should find yourself another wizard.” Gandalf continued “Are there other wizards, Ojiisan?” Takeo asked from his pony “Indeed there are my dear boy, there are five of us in total.” Gandalf answered with pride “Who are they?” Bilbo asked “There is the greatest of our order, Saruman the white! Then there are the two blue wizards, you know I’ve quite forgotten their names.” Gandalf replied sheepishly “Then there’s you Ojiisan.” Hanako said, making the old wizard chuckle “And the fifth?” Bilbo asked “That would be, Radagast the brown.” Gandalf answered the hobbit “Is he a great wizard or is he, more like you?” Bilbo asked ‘Mom, Nezuko and Tanjiro would have our heads for asking something like that.’ Takeo shuddered at the thought of his mother’s and older siblings stern faces “I wonder how Nii Chan and Nee Chan are doing.” Takeo whispered, unaware that his three younger siblings can hear him “I think he is a great wizard, he’s a gentle soul! Prefers the company of animals over others.” Gandalf replied as the journey continues.

After riding for sometime until the rain stoped, the company finally stopped for camp at what appears to be the ruins of a house “What happwened Ojiisan?” Rokuta asked, tugging at Gandalf’s robe “A farmer and his family use to live here, until they were attacked by a beast.” Gandalf answered, patting Rokuta’s little head as he heard Thorin giving orders “Takeo, laddie! Can you chop wood for the fire?” Thorin asked the oldest elfling “Sure thing, Thorin Sama.” Takeo answered, while taking an axe from Gloin “What can we do Thorin Sama?” Hanako and Shigeru asked “hmm! Shigeru, why don’t you and Rokuta help my nephews watch the ponies and Hanako, you can help with setting the camp.” Thorin told the young elves, as Gandalf took Rokuta out of the sling and placed him onto the ground “Hai, Thorin Sama.” They said together, with Shigeru taking Rokuta “Come on Rokuta Chan, let’s help Nii Chan Fili and Nii Chan Kili with the ponies.” Shigeru said with enthusiasm “Otway.” The toddler said “Be carful you two.” Takeo shouted, as he chopped wood with help from Gloin “Thorin, I think we should head to the valley, not for my sake but for the children.” Gandalf said with concern, as he sees Hanako helping with the bed rolls and Takeo continuing to chop wood “I told you, I will not go near that place.” Thorin said stubbornly “The elves could give us food, rest, advice.” Gandalf pushed on “I don’t need their advice.” Thorin added on, turning the discussion into an argument thus causing Gandalf to leave in a huff as he’d “Had enough of dwarves for one day.” And stormed off “Will Ojiisan be back?” Hanako asked, as she’s now helping Bombur with the cooking.

Later that night:

Bofur Is serving the stew, while making sure Bombur doesn’t try sneaking himself more and talking with Bilbo “Can you three take these to the young lads?” The floppy hat wearing dwarf asked “Sure thing, Bofur sama.” Takeo replied, taking one of the bowls while Hanako and Bilbo carried the others.

As they’re walking, Bilbo asked the question he’s been wanting to ask “I’ve been meaning to ask you! What does San, Sama, Nii chan, Nee Chan and Ojiisan mean?” The hobbit asked his older two wards “San and Sama is a polite way to address someone! Nii Chan means big brother! Nee Chan means big sister! And Ojiisan means grandpa!” Hanako described to Bilbo, who was fascinated by what he’s learning.

When Bilbo and the older elflings saw the two young dwarves and younger elflings, they saw them looking troubled.

Curious, they went up to them “What’s wrong?” Takeo asked “We may have a problem.” Shigeru answered “We were supposed to be watching the ponies.” Fili spoke “Only, we’ve encountered a small problem.” Kili continued “Small problem? More like a whale size problem.” Shigeru said “Daisy and Bungwo are mwissing.” Rokuta blurted out “WHAT!?” Bilbo asked in alarm “Yes, and something big uprooted those trees.” Shigeru replied “Something very big and quite Dangerous.” Bilbo replied, as all of them went into the forest with Bilbo, Takeo and Hanako still carrying the bowls of stew.

They went to a clearing and saw a light in the distant “What’s that?” Hanako asked “Good work Hanako, She sees a light.” Fili praised as they went to the light and saw two big figures sitting around a fire, with one steering a pot of something that smelled gross “Trolls.” Kili Snarled “What!?” Shigeru asked, tilting his head “The most dimwitted creatures on Middle Earth.” Fili replied when thumping was heard, looking to where it’s coming from.

It was a troll, walking with two ponies tucked under his arms towards where the other two are “He has Myrtle and Minty.” Hanako pointed out.

A plan was made, Bilbo was to free the ponies while Fili, Kili and the Kamado siblings stand watch.

Sadly, the plan didn’t work! For one of the trolls used Bilbo as a handkerchief, much to the Kamado siblings shock and the plan backfiring “We’ll get uncle and the others, you four stay here and keep watch.” Fili said in fear “But stay hidden.” Kili replied, following his brother to where the companies camp is “OK.” Takeo replied, watching as the trolls argued over what Bilbo is and how to cook him “We gotta find a way to help Bilbo Sama!” Shigeru exclaimed, until the dwarves charged in and fought the trolls until two of the trolls held Bilbo by the arms and threatened to rip them off if the dwarves don’t comply.

In minutes, some of the dwarves and Bilbo were in sacks on the ground, while the others were tied to a spit over the fire with the lead troll turning the spit.

The three elflings noticed Gandalf walking behind a bolder, as Bilbo is distracting the trolls “I see Ojiisan!” Rokuta pointed out “The Dawn will take you all.” Gandalf chanted, standing over a bolder with his staff over his head “Who’s that? Can we eat him?” Asked one of the trolls, just as Gandalf splits the boulder and the trolls turned into stone.

When the trolls are stone, the dwarves and Bilbo are freed “Ojiisan, you came back.” Shigeru beamed “Of course I came back, you didn’t think I’d abandon you lot!?” Gandalf asked, tapping a stoned troll with his staff.

Skip because I’m lazy:

When the trolls cave was found, Gandalf found 5 swords that were perfect for Bilbo and the Kamado siblings! Radagast came to warn them about the darkness (and to get a stick bug out of his mouth), orcs and wargs attacked, Radagast held them off, elves attacked the pack and now they were literally fallowing the light through a tunnel.

Bilbo and his four elflings are in awe by the place before them “Pretty.” Rokuta squealed “You’re right Rokuta Chan, it is pretty.” Shigeru replied in awe “Imladris!” The children didn’t hear the rest, for they were to entranced by the city.

Gandalf chuckled at the awe struck looks of the Kamado siblings, Rokuta was being carried on his hip and the older elflings were in front “Don’t stray too far, you three.” Bilbo called to three of his elflings “We won’t, Bilbo Sama.” Takeo called, as they got closer to the city of Imladris or in the common tongue Rivendell.

When they reached the city, a man with long brown hair and the same ears as them in blue robes came down and talked to Gandalf in a strange but familiar language “Guys look, he has the same ears as us.” Shigeru pointed out “Shigeru, it’s not polite to point.” Hanako scolded her little brother, when the man noticed them “Elflings?” He asked, getting to the children’s height “Hello, I’m Takeo Kamado! These are my siblings.” Takeo introduced “I’m Hanako.” Hanako introduced next “I’m Shigeru.” Shigeru replied next “I Rokuta, what about you mister?” Rokuta introduced and asked curiously “I’m Lindir.” Lindir replied, a gentle smile gracing his face when a horn bellowing is heard.

People on horses road in and a man in armor came up to Gandalf, they talked until the man noticed the Kamado siblings “Hello little ones, I am Elrond! What is are your names?” The man, now known as Elrond asked “Hello to you to sir, I’m Takeo Kamado! These three are my siblings.” Takeo replied “I’m Hanako.” Hanako replied, “I’m Shigeru.” Shigeru said next “I Rokuta.” Rokuta said lastly.

Elrond smiled fondly to the Kamado siblings and gently picked Rokuta up, who happily squealed in delight “It’s been centuries, since elflings have been seen.” He told the four young elves then said something in the strange language “Does he offer us insult?” Gloin asked “He is offering us food, Gloin Sama.” Takeo replied to Gloin, much to his, Hanako’s and Shigeru’s confusion “Oh, lead the way.” Gloin replied “How did you know that, Nii Chan?” Hanako asked “I don’t know, I just did.” Takeo tried to explained, when Gandalf scooped Shigeru up “Come now you three, before the dwarves hog everything.” Gandalf chuckled “And I expect you four to behave yourselves.” Bilbo said, with a stern look that could rival their mother’s and older siblings stern looks combined.

Recap:

Hanako: Rivendell is so pretty.

Shigeru: yeah, Elrond Sama and Lindir Sama are really nice.

Rokuta: They pretty.

Takeo: Now it’s time for a Middle Earth secret *leans in* Ojiisan Gandalf said that Ojiisan Radagast prefers the company of animals over people.

Hanako: With so many animals, Ojiisan Radagast must never be lonely.

Shigeru: you think he has monkeys?

Rokuta: Hippo, Hippo.

Radagast: Sadly, I don’t have Monkeys or hippo’s.

Lindir: What about elks? I heard where you live in there’s a great elk population.

Elrond: who are they talking to?

Dwalin: I gave up asking for my sanity.

Are you two considering having more kids? Or was Rayla more than enough for you two? (Fully understood if that is the case)🤣

I would wish to ensure that our home - the Silvergrove - Xadia - is truly safe first. And considering my, er, fraught relationship with King Ezran right now, I'm not sure when I'll be able to say that.

In the meantime, we have Ethari's Moon Cubs over for High Tea each week. High Tea is when we all sit in the branches and try not to drop our teacups to the ground. My favorite part is when they're sipping their tea, because there is a momentary lapse in their incessant chatter. Ah, bliss.

Ethari does his best to tank their questions, though, and he genuinely delights in these elflings, so I cannot be upset. It is strange getting to sit and learn about the life he had while I was gone, but I'm enjoying every moment of it - even the moments with chattering elflings in them. It's like falling in love with him all over again.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that for multiple ages, Elrond rolls up to White Council meetings with what looks like a bird’s nest on his head and all that he gets is an understanding look from Galadriel who went through the exact same thing with Celebrían. And that Fëanor goes to parties in Aman with seven braids of different lengths and skill levels sticking out from every side of his head. And that anybody who dares to comment on Curufin’s odd hair style choices for diplomacy meetings gets instantly either mercilessly snarked at (by Curufin) or growled at (by Celegorm).

Moonshadow elves certainly do! Our legends tell of the graceful and powerful Moon Phoenixes bringing the first Moonshadow elves to Xadia on a beam of purest moonlight. There are more recent legends of the first Moonshadow elflings to arrive in the east after some of our people traveled from the western lands before the border was drawn, and how they were shepherded to safety during a time of great crisis by the Moon Phoenixes themselves.

Moon Phoenixes are rare and powerful creatures of the Moon arcanum, and their link to the cycle of life is considered a powerful omen and a source of luck.

This is why we tell any elfling who has a close call early in life that it's a good thing a Moon Phoenix brought them to their family and blessed them with an extra bit of rebirth luck. No Moonshadow gets very much of that sort of luck, but with the way our lives can go sometimes... *carefully avoids looking at my stabby husband* it's a very handy thing to have.

When Legolas was a baby, and a small child, Thranduil used to sing to him in Sindarin to get him to sleep. We all know Legolas was a hyperactive child and the only way to get him to quiet down long enough to sleep was to promise to sing him a song.