Disclaimer: If you recognise the name, chances are it belongs to J.R.R Tolkien. If not, then it very well might belong to me.
Special note: I often use elvish phrases and rarely translate them while writing. All Elven is cannon uless otherwise noted and a list of the phrases used can be found at the end of the first chapter they appear in.
Prologue:
Before the Beginning
The she-elf wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and her little bundle, hoping that doing so would fend off the biting wind.
It didn't.
She coughed and scooted closer to the small fire. Gold green eyes darted nervously from her husband who sat not too far away and then out at the rest of the world, not quite able to see past the light of the fire despite her sharpened senses.
"A'maelamin." The male's voice was soft and smooth, much like a cello. It drew the she-elf's attention away from the shadows that weren't really there and held that attention with a soft command. "Amin dele ten' ell."
This time she attempted to muffle her cough with the crook of her arm. She offered him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Uuma dela," She whispered, coughing again and looked away.
He watched her for a long time. "Tula sinome." He beckoned her over with a hand and hesitantly she obliged. Taking her face between his hands, but mindful not to squash the now wriggling bundle that she clutched to her chest, he pressed his forehead to hers and looked her in the eyes. "Lle tayava qul?"
She nodded, but coughed again despite her reassurance.
"Lle vesta amin?"
Her reassurances did nothing to ease the ache in his heart as he continued to watch her.
She shifted uncomfortably where she sat and avoided his gaze. "Mani?" She asked him, suddenly irritated. Her outburst caused her to cough again and keep coughing.
The light haired elf rushed to his dark haired beloved's side, quickly taking the bundle from her and holding it in the crook of one arm while wrapping his free arm around the woman's shoulders.
The she-elf coughed until her hands were stained with her own blood and then continued coughing some more.
"A'maelamin? Narie?" Desperate to do something he let her go and set the bundle on the ground where had sat only moments before, the snow having already been pushed away from that spot. "Lle anta yula en alu?"
The woman, Narie, shook her head, declining his offer and the canteen he'd held out for her. "Amin anta est." She admitted with an exhausted sigh. "Amin autien rath." She pulled the cloak closer around her shoulders and didn't protest when the male added another.
He settled her into a spot with no snow and handed her the bundle before she even had to ask. "Amin mela lle." As he lay beside her.
His reply was a soft sigh that he took as the woman finally being able to relax, so he snuggled against her, wrapping an arm around her waist and another cradle ling her head, fingers playing with her hair.
It wasn't until the next morning, when the sun had raised high into the sky that he awoke to find that he'd been holding a corpse all night long.
That day was…
There were no words in elvish to express how tragic that day was for him. It went by as though he were watching it from a third person perspective rather than living it himself.
He had to leave the body of his beloved at their little camp site because he couldn't carry her and the little bundle which was, thank Valar, unharmed. He swore that he would return for her however, once he had things settled enough in the halls of Lord Elrond that he could return.
Yes, Narie would get a proper burial. He swore that as well, and took comfort in that fact.
And Elrond, though less than supportive in his decision to discard the bundle, agreed to make sure nothing happened to it.
That said and done, there was no longer a reason for him to be in Rivendell. He had been too late in arriving to carry out his original intentions which had been to save his wife who had been poisoned.
Now that he was no longer burdened with the bundle (Which he had previously handed over to Elrond who in turn handed it over to a servant) He as able to go back to Narie's body, taking her to Mirkwood where she would be mourned in a way that one would hope they too were mourned once they had passed on.
Elrond tucked a strand of dark hair behind a delicately pointed ear and looked long and hard at the bundle which he swore against his better judgment to protect. He sighed through his nose and unwrapped the baby girl.
She stared up at him, sharp golden blue eyes meeting steel grey. She opened her mouth and Elrond prepared himself for the inevitable wailing that was sure to follow such an action.
Instead his ears rang with a loud, yet happy squeal of utter glee.
He stared at the child in surprise, and then smiled. "Oh you are going to be trouble aren't you?" He asked with a soft chuckle, running a slightly long nail down the bridge of the baby's nose.
He picked the child up and crooned sweet nothings to her until there was a knock on the door. Looking up, his gaze was met by a pair of hazel eyes surrounded by a narrow face. Fair skin, yet with dark hair that wasn't quite a true black and a lithe frame that most elves had; long limbed, yet not quite gangly unless one was speaking in comparison to other elves. "Can I help you Elladan?"
The newcomer shrugged. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't taking to yourself, Ada." He said with a sharp grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. He looked at the baby in his father's arms. "Aw." He entered the room and came to stand next to his father. "Can we keep it?"
Elrond looked at his son with distain. "It would be a girl, and yes. Until I can find a family willing to take her in, we'll be keeping her safe."
Elladan nodded in understanding and studied the baby. "And if no one is willing to take her?" It was a question that had to be asked.
"Why wouldn't some one want her?" Elrond asked, looking from the child in hi arms to Elladan.
The younger elf shrugged. "Father, look at her." He motioned with a hand. "She looks too…" he paused, unable to think of a tactful way to say it.
"She looks like a Mirkwood elf?"
"Yes. Not enough Noldorin in her if you understand my meaning."
Silence. Then, "I suppose if no one is willing to take her we'll just have to make due."
"You know, First you rob me of the ability to be an only child, then you bring home a little elven girl and present her to me as my baby sister. That I can understand however, and all in all, Arwen isn't so bad now. But this however." He shook his head. "Next you'll be taking in humans." He looked at his father. "Honestly."
Elrond just watched his son throughout the half hearted rant. "She's getting to you isn't she ion nin?" He asked Elladan with a smile tugging at his lips. He lifted the baby up and had his son and the child locking eyes before Elladan could say anything to the contrary.
"…No she's not. Really. She…she isn't."
The baby made that same happy squealing noise and that alone seemed to breath the elf.
There was a pause. "Can we see if someone wants Elrohir instead?" He asked. Holding his arms out for the baby. "I mean this one is so much cuter and more lovable."
Elrond handed over the child, shaking his head. "No I think that your twin would not like being fought over by families of Rivendell any more than you would like it."
He was met with a droll stare. "You do realize that you're talking to me right?"
"Ah yes, that's right. You're the one who encourages the flirting. I had you and your brother confused for a moment." He chuckled. "The answer, however, remains no. I'm much too fond of my children to get rid of any of them." He patted his son on the shoulder and watched the girl look at Elladan, sizing him up it seemed, with grim determination on all too innocent face of hers. "I would watch her if I were you." He warned his son before leaving the room.
"What's she going to do Ada?" He asked his father as the man was leaving. "Drown me in drool?" He laughed heartily and turned back to the child. "I don't think so." He said to the girl. "You wouldn't do that would you?" He paused and waited for a response he knew wouldn't some while she just continued to look at him like he was an idiot. "That's what I thought." He said to some imaginary response that he supplied himself in that time. "You're too sweet to cause trouble aren't you? Incapable one might say. I can tell just by looking at you."
Wishful thinking at its finest….
Elven terms and their translations:
A'maelamin (My beloved)
Amin dele ten' ell (I'm worried about you)
Uuma dela (Don't worry)
Tula sinome (Come here)
Lle tayava qul? (Are you well?)
Lle vesta amin? (Do you promise me?)
Mani? (What?)
Lle anta yula en alu?" (Do you need a drink of water?)
Amin anta est (I need to rest)
Amin autien rath (I'm going to sleep)
Amin mella lle (I love you)
Ada (Dad, Daddy)
Ion (my son)
Ideally the story will not have as much elven in it as this. I did, however, think it appropriate to start off the story in that manner. I do apologise ahead of time for any missing accent mark on the elven words. My computer hates me and doesn't like to transfer those over but I am attempting to fix the problem.
Other than that, I'd like some reviews so I know whether or not to continue with the story. Once again, my request is that I get at least one review for each chapter. The faster I get a review, the faster I tend to write.
So yes, purple button. Click it and win a prize.