Fic A Day, Day 17 - Daybreak
Aug. 17th, 2019 11:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grundyscribblingTitle: Daybreak
Rating: FR13
Crossover: LotR/Silmarillion
Summary: Anariel was up early for the last day of the voyage.
Word Count: 1310
The next time she woke, there were stars overhead – her grandfather among them, and was it just her, or was his star getting closer?
There was also the faintest glow on the eastern horizon that told her dawn couldn’t be far away.
“We meant to let you sleep until the harbor,” Elladan’s said softly. “No, sit up slowly this time. And don’t be loud – Grandfather is sleeping, and we think he should rest until daybreak. It threatens to be a long day.”
“Why?” she asked, letting him assist her even though she was pretty sure it wasn’t necessary.
There were lights in the distance in both the north and the west – lights that didn’t look like stars.
“Tol Eressëa,” Elladan explained. “We should reach Alqaulondë today.”
“Ada and Nana?” she demanded.
“Will doubtless be waiting for us.”
“Where’s El?” she asked after another look around.
Her grandfather was sleeping in a hammock on deck, much as she had been. A sailor she didn’t recognize had the wheel, which suggested Cirdan was also seizing the chance to get forty winks before he was needed for docking.
“He was persuaded that it only required one of us to keep watch over you. And I slept last night.”
“You could have both slept,” she replied in dismay.
They didn’t need to wear themselves out on her behalf when all she had done lately was sleep.
“You would rather have woken up to Grandmother Melian?” Elladan asked with a quiet laugh.
Her multi-great grandmother had popped in while she was finishing up her meal the last time she was awake. It had been an interesting introduction. She wondered if some of her weirder dreams hadn’t been Melian-related. She was certain at least some of what she had been seeing was Doriath, or its borders, at least.
“You guys could have just let me sleep and trusted whoever’s on deck to let you know if I woke up,” she protested. “And anyway, what do you think I’m going to do, jump over the side?”
“With you, one can never be sure,” Elladan said firmly. “Anyway, if you will sit quietly, I will go see what I can find in the way of food.”
“And clothes,” she suggested, taking a better look at herself rather than her surroundings for the first time.
Her clothes had looked worse after her road trip through Mordor, and probably after the Battle of the Morannon. But aside from that, this is probably a new low. She realized to her disgust that she was still wearing the outfit she’d had on back at Cerin Amroth.
Her face fell as she thought of the last thing she could remember there.
Do not think on that just yet, little sister, Elladan advised.
“You’re on the road to recovery if you’re well enough to fuss about anyone else seeing these,” he continued aloud, distracting her before her thoughts could become too grim. “I’ll return swiftly. Please stay in the hammock until I do.”
The last was in a pleading tone that said he thought it unlikely she wouldn’t argue.
“Ok,” she shrugged. “I’m in no hurry. Doesn’t look like there’s a lot to see yet anyway.”
Her brother nodded and disappeared below deck.
She looked around again. The lights in the west were getting closer – which she supposed made sense if they were Alqualondë. Her grandfather’s star was definitely larger. Maybe she’d get to see him today, in a face to face way. That was an encouraging thought.
She felt an inquiring pressure against her mind, and recognized it as Tindomiel. But she didn’t want to overshare with her little sister, so she closed her mind. Tinu would just have to wait a few more hours. (Thanks to Radio Free Melian, she already knew they were all in Aman proper and safe.)
Elladan was as good as his word – it couldn’t have been more than 10 minutes before he was back, carrying both fresh clothing and what food he could find. All the same, the sky was rapidly lightening.
“I want to change first,” she announced, thankful he’d brought just a plain tunic and leggings.
She’d have liked to claim she was just fine, but she was still pretty exhausted and more than a little sore, despite all the sleep. Slayer healing still hadn’t really kicked in yet. If she were honest, she was probably in danger of spilling something and making a mess of herself.
Elladan’s lips quirked – he had no doubt followed her thoughts. But he said nothing as he helped her shrug out of her gross old stuff and put on the clean things he’d brought up for her.
She was happy to sit back down by the time she was properly dressed. Her legs still wanted another few days asleep. But they’re going to have to deal, because she’s going to at least make it down the gangplank when they dock.
“I know you were not pleased with fish before, so I stuck with lembas, jam, and dried fruit,” Elladan said as he handed it over.
“I will never complain about raspberry jam,” Anariel assured him after the first blissful bite. If she had to guess, he’d dumped all that was left of the jam jar onto the lembas for her.
“Anyway, I bet the Amayar relatives try to stuff us silly once we land.”
“Very likely,” he laughed. “Look, you can see the island properly now.”
It was true. The Lonely Isle was intensely green. She could make out gardens in the pre-dawn mist, and here and there a light sparkled at the end of a dock or on a moored ship. A lighthouse shone out in one spot, possibly marking the end of the island, for the lights she could see beyond it looked much further away.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
Elrohir’s voice betrayed that he wasn’t quite fully awake yet.
Anariel looked at Elladan.
“You tell him,” she said firmly, before applying herself to the mixed dried fruit.
“Apparently we both should have slept,” Elladan shrugged.
“Right. Because you wouldn’t have woken up, tried to go running around, and ended up re-injuring yourself,” Elrohir snorted.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Anariel replied airily. “Anyway, when do we change into ‘woohoo, we’re getting off the boat’ clothes?”
“Probably around the time the pilot comes on board,” Elrohir shrugged. “Which won’t be for another hour or two.”
Anariel blinked. To her mind (parts of which were still highly influenced by southern California), a pilot flew a plane. She could halfway see calling Eärendil a pilot on account of the whole ‘flying ship’ thing, but not anyone steering a regular boat.
“And yet, that is what they are called,” Elladan told her mildly. “It will be interesting to see them. Whoever is sent might well be kin.”
“Mmm.”
Despite her earlier remark, Anariel wasn’t actually all that enthused about tons of new people at the moment.
She was already aware she would have to fight the ‘not a child’ battle afresh times about two hundred, given that she hadn’t grown so much as an inch since arriving in Arda and the Amanyar were mostly taller than elves born on the Hither Shores. By their lights, she looked like a teenager who hadn’t really grown yet. Add on top of that the part where she was a little bit brittle at the moment and still having to move carefully…
“It won’t be so bad,” Elrohir assured her, though she got the feeling he was saying it as much for his own peace of mind.
“So you’re the appointed optimist today?” she snorted.
“At least we will see our parents, Tinu, and Grandmother again,” he replied.
She leaned against him, doing her best to soothe his nerves.
“You’re right. It will be a good day. Look, here comes the sun.”
Rating: FR13
Crossover: LotR/Silmarillion
Summary: Anariel was up early for the last day of the voyage.
Word Count: 1310
The next time she woke, there were stars overhead – her grandfather among them, and was it just her, or was his star getting closer?
There was also the faintest glow on the eastern horizon that told her dawn couldn’t be far away.
“We meant to let you sleep until the harbor,” Elladan’s said softly. “No, sit up slowly this time. And don’t be loud – Grandfather is sleeping, and we think he should rest until daybreak. It threatens to be a long day.”
“Why?” she asked, letting him assist her even though she was pretty sure it wasn’t necessary.
There were lights in the distance in both the north and the west – lights that didn’t look like stars.
“Tol Eressëa,” Elladan explained. “We should reach Alqaulondë today.”
“Ada and Nana?” she demanded.
“Will doubtless be waiting for us.”
“Where’s El?” she asked after another look around.
Her grandfather was sleeping in a hammock on deck, much as she had been. A sailor she didn’t recognize had the wheel, which suggested Cirdan was also seizing the chance to get forty winks before he was needed for docking.
“He was persuaded that it only required one of us to keep watch over you. And I slept last night.”
“You could have both slept,” she replied in dismay.
They didn’t need to wear themselves out on her behalf when all she had done lately was sleep.
“You would rather have woken up to Grandmother Melian?” Elladan asked with a quiet laugh.
Her multi-great grandmother had popped in while she was finishing up her meal the last time she was awake. It had been an interesting introduction. She wondered if some of her weirder dreams hadn’t been Melian-related. She was certain at least some of what she had been seeing was Doriath, or its borders, at least.
“You guys could have just let me sleep and trusted whoever’s on deck to let you know if I woke up,” she protested. “And anyway, what do you think I’m going to do, jump over the side?”
“With you, one can never be sure,” Elladan said firmly. “Anyway, if you will sit quietly, I will go see what I can find in the way of food.”
“And clothes,” she suggested, taking a better look at herself rather than her surroundings for the first time.
Her clothes had looked worse after her road trip through Mordor, and probably after the Battle of the Morannon. But aside from that, this is probably a new low. She realized to her disgust that she was still wearing the outfit she’d had on back at Cerin Amroth.
Her face fell as she thought of the last thing she could remember there.
Do not think on that just yet, little sister, Elladan advised.
“You’re on the road to recovery if you’re well enough to fuss about anyone else seeing these,” he continued aloud, distracting her before her thoughts could become too grim. “I’ll return swiftly. Please stay in the hammock until I do.”
The last was in a pleading tone that said he thought it unlikely she wouldn’t argue.
“Ok,” she shrugged. “I’m in no hurry. Doesn’t look like there’s a lot to see yet anyway.”
Her brother nodded and disappeared below deck.
She looked around again. The lights in the west were getting closer – which she supposed made sense if they were Alqualondë. Her grandfather’s star was definitely larger. Maybe she’d get to see him today, in a face to face way. That was an encouraging thought.
She felt an inquiring pressure against her mind, and recognized it as Tindomiel. But she didn’t want to overshare with her little sister, so she closed her mind. Tinu would just have to wait a few more hours. (Thanks to Radio Free Melian, she already knew they were all in Aman proper and safe.)
Elladan was as good as his word – it couldn’t have been more than 10 minutes before he was back, carrying both fresh clothing and what food he could find. All the same, the sky was rapidly lightening.
“I want to change first,” she announced, thankful he’d brought just a plain tunic and leggings.
She’d have liked to claim she was just fine, but she was still pretty exhausted and more than a little sore, despite all the sleep. Slayer healing still hadn’t really kicked in yet. If she were honest, she was probably in danger of spilling something and making a mess of herself.
Elladan’s lips quirked – he had no doubt followed her thoughts. But he said nothing as he helped her shrug out of her gross old stuff and put on the clean things he’d brought up for her.
She was happy to sit back down by the time she was properly dressed. Her legs still wanted another few days asleep. But they’re going to have to deal, because she’s going to at least make it down the gangplank when they dock.
“I know you were not pleased with fish before, so I stuck with lembas, jam, and dried fruit,” Elladan said as he handed it over.
“I will never complain about raspberry jam,” Anariel assured him after the first blissful bite. If she had to guess, he’d dumped all that was left of the jam jar onto the lembas for her.
“Anyway, I bet the Amayar relatives try to stuff us silly once we land.”
“Very likely,” he laughed. “Look, you can see the island properly now.”
It was true. The Lonely Isle was intensely green. She could make out gardens in the pre-dawn mist, and here and there a light sparkled at the end of a dock or on a moored ship. A lighthouse shone out in one spot, possibly marking the end of the island, for the lights she could see beyond it looked much further away.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
Elrohir’s voice betrayed that he wasn’t quite fully awake yet.
Anariel looked at Elladan.
“You tell him,” she said firmly, before applying herself to the mixed dried fruit.
“Apparently we both should have slept,” Elladan shrugged.
“Right. Because you wouldn’t have woken up, tried to go running around, and ended up re-injuring yourself,” Elrohir snorted.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Anariel replied airily. “Anyway, when do we change into ‘woohoo, we’re getting off the boat’ clothes?”
“Probably around the time the pilot comes on board,” Elrohir shrugged. “Which won’t be for another hour or two.”
Anariel blinked. To her mind (parts of which were still highly influenced by southern California), a pilot flew a plane. She could halfway see calling Eärendil a pilot on account of the whole ‘flying ship’ thing, but not anyone steering a regular boat.
“And yet, that is what they are called,” Elladan told her mildly. “It will be interesting to see them. Whoever is sent might well be kin.”
“Mmm.”
Despite her earlier remark, Anariel wasn’t actually all that enthused about tons of new people at the moment.
She was already aware she would have to fight the ‘not a child’ battle afresh times about two hundred, given that she hadn’t grown so much as an inch since arriving in Arda and the Amanyar were mostly taller than elves born on the Hither Shores. By their lights, she looked like a teenager who hadn’t really grown yet. Add on top of that the part where she was a little bit brittle at the moment and still having to move carefully…
“It won’t be so bad,” Elrohir assured her, though she got the feeling he was saying it as much for his own peace of mind.
“So you’re the appointed optimist today?” she snorted.
“At least we will see our parents, Tinu, and Grandmother again,” he replied.
She leaned against him, doing her best to soothe his nerves.
“You’re right. It will be a good day. Look, here comes the sun.”
