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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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 Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:47 pm
New Brother
Well, I should have known that it wouldn’t be much longer. It had been far too long since Mom’s last adoption. Now we’ve got another brother – or will have, as soon as he’s born. A merboy, whom Mom named Jair. I can’t wait to meet him.
Mom let me go to the Seconds world today to pick up the vase for her. She’s becoming more and more busy what with all the siblings we’re picking up, so I can’t blame her for not coming herself. It makes me feel good though that she trusts me enough to pick up a new vase for her. I used to be so clumsy, I remember, that she wouldn’t even let me carry dishes – but to carry back a fragile vase that holds new life … yes, things have definitely changed.
It was an interesting visit, too. I met the goddess Raspy for the first time, and … a mini her, it seemed. A child named Raspberry. She’s such a shy little thing, I think even worse than Serenity used to be. But she’s sweet. I think she just needs to get out more, meet more people, and build up her self-confidence. Maybe I can help her with that. I’d like to.
At any rate, it’s time for bed. I have to be up early after all for more training. It seems to be my life now … but if I hope to someday move to Arda and help with rescuing children permanently, and perhaps even put an end to the slave trade, then I need all the training I can get.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 10:43 pm
A Father-Son Chat Celebor hoped there wouldn't be any trouble stemming from the fact that he had come to the library on his own to come and talk to Lore. Skye, he knew, was probably with Yuki and Tristan, and Shiro and Ura would be somewhere in the shelves of books, so he hoped that he wouldn't have to worry about them interrupting the conversation he was hoping to have. He had told his mother where he was going, but hadn't said why, and he hoped that she wouldn't ask too many questions either -- at least, not yet.
Because this was something he honestly didn't know how to do, and the only person he could think of who might be able to help him ... was Lore.
And so it was that in the afternoon of this very fine spring day, he was at the library, knocking on the door of his father's office.
Lore on his part was finishing up writing letters to other scholars, it was a funny thing about him. He was just a librarian, it was the job he had chosen, but he was treated like one of those scholars in those big schools. Probably because every once in a while he published something worth while. As he was finishing up giving his opinion on a particular text, the knock on his door came to his attention. He wondered who could it be, it could be his assistants, or one of the children, or someone completely not related.
"Come in."
Celebor blinked when he heard the invitation, then took a deep breath to steady his nerves and reached for the doorknob, turning it slowly and taking a half-step into the room.
"Hello, Lore," he said softly, his green eyes strangely troubled. "Do you have a few minutes? There's ... something I'd like to talk to you about ... I think I might need your help."
Lore's eyes met Celebor's owe, and the older man couldn't help but be curious and somewhat worried about this.
"Of course, close the door behind you and take a seat," he offered.
He cleaned up his desk a bit, straighting out the papers before setting them aside. Even though he shoved them all into the same pile, he knew he was going to have a bugger of a time finding a certain paper later. It didn't matter though, this, was unusual. Probably because he, himself had never really offered advice to Celebor before in the past, and the fact it seemed to bother Celebor whatever it was.
Celebor nodded and stepped completely inside, closing the door behind himself and moving to sit in the chair across from Lore.
"There's ... something I need to talk to you and Mom about," he began, his eyes downcast, "but I don't know how to talk to Mom ... so I was wondering ... if I talk to you about it ... if you could maybe tell her for me, or tell me how I can tell her without ... making a scene ..."
Not that it would necessarily be a bad scene, he still wanted to avoid all embarrassment and complications.
Now he was very, very curious, something Lore had not been in a very long while, for he could not figure out what it was that would make Celebor think it would cause a scene. Not to mention it didn't sound good when being put that way.
"I see..." Lore murmured thoughtfully as he watched Celebor.
Should he worry? It was hard to read, but just the fact that Celebor wasn't looking at him, didn't do much to ease his worries.
"What is it that you need to say?"
Celebor took a deep breath and looked up at Lore, his cheeks turning a light shade of red.
"Well ... you see," he began hesitantly, trying to think of the best way to say it. But there was no best way, and he couldn't help but wonder if it wouldn't just be best to be blunt. He decided to try it.
"I've found a mate," he blurted, "and I know it's really sudden and everything and I just don't know how to tell Mom because I've never mentioned her to Mom before and I know I haven't to you either but I just don't know how Mom will react or what she'll say or anything and I just want to know how I can tell her in a way that won't shock her or anything."
He felt his face growing very warm, and he knew that it was very, very red. He couldn't bring himself to look at Lore, afraid of what he might see in his future father's face.
Normally when something like this needed to be said, he was always told it was best to talk it over with food and drink, it let the other person's guard down. Lore personally glad they weren't, he might have choiced. The old (relatively speaking) librarian looked utterly caught off guard and dumbfounded. Where there any clues? Not that he knew of but he wasn't around as much. He would dare ask at this moment if Elnara noticed something, because Celebor made it sound like there was no hint of this what so ever.
Though it was clear, it was a matter that sort of made Celebor embarassed (probably he figured in a love sort of sense). When he really thought about it, Celebor was at that age, and he knew (from what he read) that they did find mates quickly, at least the ones that grow in stages. It was... find a mate, or just not find a mate, they made it sound easy in a way.
".... Ah.... this.... when did this happen?"
Then again if he was going to be logical about it, yes it was sudden, but finding mates were sudden things. They didn't have to go through the trouble of marriage or anything sort of ritual. For the most part anyways.
Celebor swallowed hardly.
"Yesterday."
As if he was ever going to forget.
He knew that he had given his parents no warning, but he hadn't had any warning either. He had gone to the Seconds world to relax ... but the day had just sort of slipped away from him.
He was about to say that Celebor was too young to have a mate, a thought which he had to viciously and mentally bash down before it could slip from his mouth. Logically, he reasoned with himself, Celebor was a teen, and therefore at that time where he should be looking for a mate (if there was a proper way to go about it). Besides, didn't he have uncles who were mated at that age or something?
He should have asked Elnara more about her siblings.
"Oh...." Lore tried to say something productive.
This wasn't working, because it was obviously too sudden, in which his overly knowledgable mind (it could be a curse on some days to know that much) knew that this was normal. Quick matings (in finding a mate not the other meaning), was completely normal. So why didn't he feel any better about this? He knew this was the case, anyone who had a child like Celebor would know this was the case.
This wasn't working....
Lore coughed a bit, "To be honest, I am completely caught off guard, though... in hindsight... I mean it is... normal for someone your age to find that person you want to live with for the rest of your life..."
He still kind of wished Celebor was an adult before finding a mate, but one was not to look a gifted horse in the mouth as they would say. Lore looked at Celebor, he really should reassure the boy before he thinks that Lore was upset with him.
"So, I quite understand that you now have a mate, it's just going to take a bit of adjusting."
A lot of adjusting....
Celebor nodded as if he had expected some sort of reaction like that - which, truth be told, he had. He of all people knew how unexpected that it was, and he had known from the moment he had asked Niyana to be his mate that it was going to be difficult to explain this to his parents.
He had thought, though, that it would be easier at least to talk to Lore about it.
He lifted his eyes and looked up at his father. "You're thinking more than you're saying," he said softly, his green eyes serious. "Don't ... don't hold back, just tell me what you're thinking. I'm technically older than most Seconds my age, and look at Uncle Yuki - Ayce was a teen for the longest time, he only grew a few days ago, and they even have some kids already!"
He shut his mouth at that. He had determined before coming that he wouldn't mention children, but there he just had. He hadn't meant to. It was just one of the things that he and Niyana had talked about.
"I know that," Lore murmured, "And yes, I'm thinking a lot, but not in the way you think. Really, logically speaking, from documents and journals collected about stage growing children, sudden matings is completely normal. I know this, with your uncles and aunts you know this, and most people who look after stage growing children know this. Yes, I know you are older than expected, and at two years very much older, in honesty there is nothing wrong with suddenly having a mate, it happens."
He paused and realized Celebor had already been thinking that far ahead, which he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad.
"It's just hard to wrap one's mind around."
Celebor relaxed slightly and nodded.
"I didn't mean for it to be so sudden," he assured Lore softly. "I didn't even know that I was going to see her ... and then ... things just started happening ... but I have no doubt that she is the one I love, the one that I want to be with me for the rest of my life ..."
His voice grew more and more passionate as he spoke.
"I didn't know at first what was happening, it all started so quickly ... but ... I just feel that she's a part of me now, a part of me that can't be erased ..."
His fingers moved to his chest, and he rubbed lightly at his tunic, his expression thoughtful.
"That... is quite understandable," Lore's eyes softened at that.
Now the question was, how to pose this to Elnara, she was going to be just as shocked as he. It wasn't like they had been through this before, not like Elnara's adopted mother... Now there was an idea.
Lore smiled a bit, "I have an idea, why not bring this up to your mother with your grandmother's help or her in the room? She's use to something like this, I'm sure at least one of your aunts or uncles must have had a sudden pairing like this. So she would know better how to take it and help you along a little."
Celebor looked at Lore anxiously. "You're sure you wouldn't want to be there?" he asked softly. "Mom doesn't take surprises as well as you ... and I'm not sure but I'm afraid you might have to calm her or something ..."
Yes, he could see her getting quite worked up over it. More about the surprise of it than anything else, but still. She would get worked up, he was certain.
He could see that happening, after all Celebor was her oldest and he now was ready to start a family. Yes that would involving being quite worked up, he just hoped it would be a good way.
"I'll be there," Lore murmured, "Don't worry, though I have to admit. I don't know how she would react, I mean... like I said. I shouldn't be such a surprise, but it is being blindsided that will really be part of the surprise."
Celebor nodded. "I was sort of hoping you could help me break it to her gently," he murmured. "In case you hadn't noticed, I think I sort of flubbed it with you."
He cleared his throat, his face reddening slightly.
He couldn't help but chuckle at that assessment of Celebor's because it was true, sort of.
"I'll give you credit for not beating around the bush, but it would be good for your mother to introduce the girl first, how you met and then explain you want to spend the rest of your life with her."
Celebor nodded thoughtfully. "Niyana did say that she wanted to meet the entire family," he admitted, "and it would be a good place to start ... best to introduce them a few at a time, right? Not scare her off."
Though he was certain, after yesterday, that she wouldn't be going anywhere.
"Yes, that would be preferable, and in some ways at least introducing her to most of your siblings and aunts and uncles they are Seconds and do visit the world every once in a while. So a trip to visit them while they are there would make it... in some ways less akward," Lore agreed.
Celebor perked up suddenly.
"Idhril knows her quite well," he said eagerly. "She's fond of her ... Niyana is the one who taught Idhril about henna, and dyes, always sending back more leaves and such for Idhril to make her own, even when she can't make it to the Seconds world to find the plants herself ..."
"Even better," Lore smiled, "I'm sure Idhril then will be thrilled."
Though he was sure Idhril would be thrilled even if she didn't know Niyana at all.
Celebor beamed. "Thanks," he grinned brightly. "I feel better about it now."
And he allowed himself to relax a bit in the chair, sighing a deep sigh that sounded as if he had just dropped a huge weight off his chest.
"Are you sure you don't want to be there when she comes?" he asked suddenly, looking at Lore once more.
"I'll be there when you tell Elnara, just tell me when," Lore assured Celebor.
He thought he had already said yes, maybe Celebor had been too nervous to notice. He would be, in Celebor's case.
A wave of relief washed over Celebor, and he folded his hands in his lap like a child about to make a confession to a crime he hadn't even been accused of.
"Have you talked to Mom yet today?" he asked softly, not daring any longer to look at his father. "Did she tell you I didn't come home last night?"
Lore thought about it, "No... actually I haven't talked to her yet today. I take it that's probably the other reason why you would want to say something soon. Has she confronted you about that yet?"
He wondered if Elnara was the type to, seeing as Celebor was the good one. Sure he had his moments when he was very young, but he was a good one.
Celebor shook his head. "No, she knew I was in the Seconds world, so she wasn't worried about me," he murmured, his hand once more passing over his chest, "But ... I don't want her to just think I was ... just there. I want her to know ... about Niyana ... but I don't want her to be upset or angry ..."
He turned his eyes to Lore, his expression terrified. "What if she's angry that I made Niyana my mate before even saying a word to Mom?"
"Celebor...." Lore assured him, "Calm down, she might be upset it suddenly happening, but I'm sure she won't be angry at the fact you hadn't said a word to her."
At least he was pretty sure of that, but that was asking a lot.
"It's not unusual for someone back where she comes from to have someone married without the parents or relatives knowing until after the fact, granted it's unusual that they don't know when the child is still living at home, but still... she won't be that angry."
Celebor shuffled his feet, frowning softly.
"Then she will be a little bit," he sighed. "I don't want to upset her ... I just ... want to tell her ..."
"It can't be helped, this is going to be new to her," Lore replied softly, "I don't think she'll be upset for long, she just needs time for it to sink in."
After all he would reason, Celebor is her first child, it was going to take a great deal of adjusting to.
"Only for a little bit Celebor, as soon as you get over that, and then you two can talk about it easier once the shock is over."
Celebor nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
"I'll go back to the Seconds world later today," he murmured, passing an orange hand across his forehead, "and talk to Niyana and see how she feels about coming back with me to meet you and Mom."
After all it had to be done sooner or later ... and if Lore was right in suggesting that Niyana be present when Celebor tell her the news, then it was best done sooner than later.
"Alright then," Lore murmured, "Just tell me the time and I'll be there for support."
Since it looked like Celebor could really use it, he had never seen Celebor so nervous before about anything. Though, Lore couldn't help but wonder if he had parents to explain things to, if he would act the same way.
Celebor smiled gratefully and nodded.
"Thanks," he murmured softly, rising from his chair. "I think I'll go there now ... if Mom asks you where I am, tell her I've gone back to the Seconds world, all right? I'll try not to be long ... though ... I'm afraid I can't promise anything, anymore ..."
He looked down at his orange hand, then stuck it in his pocket and smiled at Lore.
"I'll talk to you later," he nodded, heading for the door.
Lore nodded as he watched Celebor leave, "Good luck."
And as soon as the door was shut once more, he sighed to himself. He would rather just leave now, take the children and head for the inn, but there was work to be done. It was going to be hard now to focus.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 6:41 am
I find it so strange ... I know it's only been two weeks since I went to talk to Lore, to tell him that I found a mate, but so much has happened since then that I can hardly find the words to express it. I suppose it would suffice to just talk about ... well, what happened, and go from there.
Niyana had been a presence in my life already about a month before this all happened. I was wandering in the Seconds world one day and I ran into her ... it turned out she was the one who had taught Idhril to use the dye that she's so fond of using on Silvrendir. What a nice coincidence, I thought. It was a brief meeting, but I can't say that it wasn't pleasant. I thought then that it was just that she was Idhril's first real friend ... but ... looking back, perhaps it was more. I knew I liked her, but I didn't think it was anything more than a friendship.
As it was I didn't even bother mentioning it to Mom. I didn't see a reason. After all it had just been a small meeting, I still didn't know anything about her, and I didn't think that it was anything out of the ordinary then.
But the next time I ran into her ... I don't even know what happened. I mean, I do - but I just can't believe how it happened. One minute we were talking about my trips to Arda ... and the next ...
By the Valar, what happened next.
There is no explanation for it, I can say nothing but that I know without any trce of a doubt that she is my mate, my love, the one and only woman that I will ever hold in my heart. It doesn't matter anymore what I do, or where I go, or who I talk to, or what we talk about ... my thoughts are always directed towards her. I can't take my eyes off her when she's with me. I can't ...
I can't do a lot of things.
I've made us a house of sorts ... or rather, I found a cave and spruced it up a bit ... we've got a fireplace, shelves, a stone table, and a bed ... and that's really about it so far. We'll make more I'm sure as we find need, but for now it's quite comfortable. Homey. I don't miss the inn at all. My family perhaps a little, but I would never want to leave here. Not more than I have to.
With so much bliss in my life, it hardly seems possible that there is still more to tell ... but there is. This morning, Niyana and I went to find the goddesses, to ask their blessing on us so that we could start a family ...
We had no idea how blessed we would be.
As I write, I'm sitting at the table and staring at not one, not two, but FOUR vases - our children - Niyana's and mine - our offspring - our blood. Two girls and two boys ... Aras, Kanis, Ruque and Ruran. They're beautiful ... or at least, I know they will be. Their vases are beautiful ... and do they not have Niyana as their mother?
Mother ... and I will be - am - their father. I still can't wrap my head around it. It's so amazing ... I am going to be a father - no, I AM a father already. It's only a matter of time before they are born ... but as Niyana has commented, we will have no trouble filling our time.
Growing up, I had always wanted to go on adventures ... but I had always imagined that they would be like what I do in Arda, riding off and saving people from bad guys.
Truth be told ... reality turned out so much better.
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Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:31 am
Father's Log, 25 June
I don't have much time, so I'm going to put what's necessary and see how much I can get in.
Okay first things first. Kids were born, all of them healthy and beautiful. Ruran will be trouble, I hate to say it but it's true. He hates his sisters - and I think, women in general. Ruque is the sweetest kid I've ever met, and very much like Niyana. Kanis wants to be a knight, and I swear she has the perfect disposition for it. Aras ... I can't tell. She's sweet, she's excitable, and I get the feeling that she might try following me everywhere.
I've also found a trainer for them, a dark and mysterious fellow named Corrah. He lives in the mountains, and I swear I had expected him to live alone, considering his intolerance for other people, but when we brought the kids to him to start their training we discovered that he lives with a girl, Armus, who he apparently trained. She's sweet, though, very energetic and very kind. Much like Aras actually.
As for me and Niyana, for the moment it's just us and Ruque, and it's quiet. I'm not used to the quiet anymore. Anyways, Niyana has started Ruque on his own little bit of training, and if it's more domestic than warrior then that's just fine. No trouble with that. She also wants to raise him to be a bit of a healer, which I think is fantastic. We'll see how things turn out.
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Elnara Aldrich Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:49 pm
Father's log, 1 September
Where does the time go? I honestly can't believe how much time had passed ... Mom and Dad are married and off on their honeymoon, Idhril has grown and taken a mate, not to mention started her own family, Serenity has a son, my own children have grown ...
And I barely have the time to do everything I need or wish. I feel as though I have been neglecting Niyana of late ... I will have to do something to rectify that. I just have to think of something ... something amazing ... something worthy of her ... she is my life, my all, and I can't stand how much I've been leaving her alone lately.
Perhaps we should just send Ruque with the other children for a week and have a week to ourselves. Or maybe send him to visit Mom and the family, I know he would love that - he could learn healing from Uncle Yuki and Mom, and cooking from Uncle Triton ... I wonder how he would react to electricity. But Niyana and I need some alone time, and we haven't had a chance for that, not really, since the children have been born.
I'll think of something.
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