Fic A Day - Day 5 - Dream a Little Dream
Aug. 5th, 2021 11:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grundyscribblingTitle: Dream a Little Dream
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: LotR/Silmarillion
Summary: Anariel had to tell someone, and her brothers are it.
Word Count: 1305
Anariel would have been happy to dangle her feet in the water all afternoon. But she knew her brothers could tell something was up. And if she wanted to talk to them without her kid sister listening in, now was the time.
She really didn’t want Tindomiel in on this – she had already come too close as it was. Her cameo in “Sunnydale” could have turned out far worse.
“How long do you think TInu will give us before she comes looking?” she asked.
On either side of her, Elladan and Elrohir perked up.
“At least until evening,” Elladan shrugged. “After all, she does have her husband with her to keep her amused…”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve rubbed it in sufficiently that you know and won’t tell me,” she grumbled. “Milk it while it lasts, cause once she gets here, your fun is all over.”
“Oh, we will,” Elrohir smirked. “It’s very amusing.”
“And I rather doubt the fun will be all over when she gets here,” Elladan added.
Seriously, you two, she said, switching tactics. She’s not on her way now, is she?
“We could ask her to wait if it is important,” Elrohir offered, sobering at her expression. “Is it?”
She nodded.
She had to tell somebody, because there was no way she was going to manage without being found out otherwise.
She hated to dump this on her brothers. They’d already watched Morgoth toy with her all the way from Lórien to Aman – on top of having watched Arwen dies slowly. But with no Scoobies, she had little choice. Telling her father was absolutely out of the question.
Tinu, give us until tomorrow? Anariel’s cranky after her long hike. I don’t think what you had in mind will go over well this evening. We’ll meet you in the morning.
Tell her she’s a wuss and you’d better not spoil the surprise.
“I’m surprised you let her get away with that,” Elladan chuckled.
“Didn’t want to encourage her to try to listen in,” Anariel shrugged. “This one’s not for general audiences.”
“This is a reference to the movie ratings, yes?”
“You’re getting better at this,” she grinned.
“Right. So, we have made with quippage – which I think sounds considerably worse in Sindarin than it did in California. Time for you to explain?”
“You mean make with the splainy.”
Both brothers merely looked expectantly at her.
She sighed.
Right, so I guess I better start at the beginning, before any punches were thrown…
She gave them the whole story. All of it. From burying Arwen all the way until opening her eyes on the ship. They already knew the part from the boat to Lórien.
All using osanwë, of course. She knew perfectly well that wasn’t a guarantee nobody was listening in. But it was a fair guarantee her little sister wasn’t.
“It is…less bad than we expected,” Elrohir said.
I wasn’t done yet, she said.
That got a worried look from both of her brothers
“But –”
“-you reached Aman.”
True, but you recall that part where he said I’d remember?
Elladan nodded, and by the look on his face, he had that sinking feeling in his stomach.
He was being literal. I do. Remember, I mean. Everything he did to people.
Everything? Elrohir demanded. All of it? At once?
She laughed grimly.
No, not all at once. That would be too easy. Just when I meet people. I almost lost my mind the first night in Lórien – I met both Estë and Irmo at once.
When you meet people? Elladan asked in a strangled tone. Little sister, you do understand how many relatives you are not going to be able to avoid meeting?
“Gee, no, I hadn’t thought about that at all,” she retorted. “I figured I could get away with just hanging out at home and maybe the occasional visit to Grandmother and Grandfather.”
She paused. Her brothers were looking worried enough that it didn’t feel like an abstract concern about sometime in the future.
Who did Tinu marry? she demanded nervously.
“Sorry, the situation is still not dire enough to risk Tinu holding it against us for the next yen or two,” Elrohir replied. “But yes, that could be a problem. Particularly if you weren’t meaning to let her in on this.”
“Are you daft?” she snorted.
If Tinu finds out, it’s only a matter of time until Ada does. And I am not telling him.
Her brothers nodded, following the logic immediately.
How does it work? Elrohir asked thoughtfully. Do you remember immediately?
She shook her head.
When I sleep. It’s like Arda’s Least Funny Home Videos.
“And you stay sleeping peacefully?” Elladan said skeptically. Without attempting to slay anything?
“Yeah… I’m working on that,” Anariel admitted. Which is why I need your help, especially now when there’s bound to be relatives that will trigger particularly unpleasant sessions. If anyone wakes me, it starts over from the beginning!
Elladan’s jaw dropped.
You have a real talent for angering powerful enemies, little sister, Elrohir whistled. Any chance this has dissuaded you from your long term goal of ‘hitting Morgoth really hard’?
“You’re kidding, right?” Anariel shot back. “Not even close.”
Hm. Does this mean you’ll remember all about Uncle Aegnor and Uncle Angrod tonight? Elrohir asked.
Uncle Angrod I already met in Lórien, Anariel admitted. And Uncle Finrod.
FINROD?
Elladan and Elrohir had spoken as one. Before this evening, it might have been envy that prompted the outburst, but now it was horror. They knew full well how their grandmother’s eldest brother’s first life had ended – though not as well as Anariel now did.
Elrohir recovered first.
Not important right now, he said, though he sounded rather shaken. What of Uncle Aegnor?
Anariel shrugged.
Not sure, she admitted. I mean, I heard his voice, and I probably saw him from a distance in Valimar. I was actually trying not to notice him once I got into the woods. But I didn’t talk to him, or touch his mind directly. So I don’t know. I’m not sure how much it takes to set it off.
I guess we’ll find out, Elladan sighed. If not, at least you’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.
Anariel looked at him sharply.
Did Tinu marry someone from the First Age? she asked suspiciously.
“Nope, lips are sealed,” Elladan laughed.
“Minds as well,” Elrohir added.
But why the First Age? he asked. Is it only the First Age that you get these memories for?
Not exactly, Anariel said slowly. I saw some things for Grandmother beyond the First Age. And some vague stuff for Ada and Nana into the Second Age. So far almost nothing from the Third Age.
“Almost nothing is not nothing,” Elrohir pointed out. “And it does not make sense.”
It does if you factor in Sauron the Snitch, Anariel replied.
She’d had plenty of time to think about how Morgoth could know anything at all beyond the part of the First Age where he’d been kicked out, and that was the only thing that made sense. It was just as well the Numenoreans had been mortal. She suspected there would have been some absolutely killer highlight reels from the last days of the island.
“Mmm,” Elladan said noncommittally. “You’ve given us much to think on. Perhaps you should call it an early night.”
Anariel sighed. She understood the logic. Even if she was going to get a front row seat to the Sudden Flame (again), if she turned in now, she might still get some rest. And if she didn’t get the Uncle Aegnor dream tonight, she’d get a decent night’s sleep to set her up for whatever tomorrow would bring.
“I would wish you pleasant dreams,” Elladan said quietly. “But under the circumstances…”
“I’ll take all the help I can get,” Anariel sighed.
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: LotR/Silmarillion
Summary: Anariel had to tell someone, and her brothers are it.
Word Count: 1305
Anariel would have been happy to dangle her feet in the water all afternoon. But she knew her brothers could tell something was up. And if she wanted to talk to them without her kid sister listening in, now was the time.
She really didn’t want Tindomiel in on this – she had already come too close as it was. Her cameo in “Sunnydale” could have turned out far worse.
“How long do you think TInu will give us before she comes looking?” she asked.
On either side of her, Elladan and Elrohir perked up.
“At least until evening,” Elladan shrugged. “After all, she does have her husband with her to keep her amused…”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve rubbed it in sufficiently that you know and won’t tell me,” she grumbled. “Milk it while it lasts, cause once she gets here, your fun is all over.”
“Oh, we will,” Elrohir smirked. “It’s very amusing.”
“And I rather doubt the fun will be all over when she gets here,” Elladan added.
Seriously, you two, she said, switching tactics. She’s not on her way now, is she?
“We could ask her to wait if it is important,” Elrohir offered, sobering at her expression. “Is it?”
She nodded.
She had to tell somebody, because there was no way she was going to manage without being found out otherwise.
She hated to dump this on her brothers. They’d already watched Morgoth toy with her all the way from Lórien to Aman – on top of having watched Arwen dies slowly. But with no Scoobies, she had little choice. Telling her father was absolutely out of the question.
Tinu, give us until tomorrow? Anariel’s cranky after her long hike. I don’t think what you had in mind will go over well this evening. We’ll meet you in the morning.
Tell her she’s a wuss and you’d better not spoil the surprise.
“I’m surprised you let her get away with that,” Elladan chuckled.
“Didn’t want to encourage her to try to listen in,” Anariel shrugged. “This one’s not for general audiences.”
“This is a reference to the movie ratings, yes?”
“You’re getting better at this,” she grinned.
“Right. So, we have made with quippage – which I think sounds considerably worse in Sindarin than it did in California. Time for you to explain?”
“You mean make with the splainy.”
Both brothers merely looked expectantly at her.
She sighed.
Right, so I guess I better start at the beginning, before any punches were thrown…
She gave them the whole story. All of it. From burying Arwen all the way until opening her eyes on the ship. They already knew the part from the boat to Lórien.
All using osanwë, of course. She knew perfectly well that wasn’t a guarantee nobody was listening in. But it was a fair guarantee her little sister wasn’t.
“It is…less bad than we expected,” Elrohir said.
I wasn’t done yet, she said.
That got a worried look from both of her brothers
“But –”
“-you reached Aman.”
True, but you recall that part where he said I’d remember?
Elladan nodded, and by the look on his face, he had that sinking feeling in his stomach.
He was being literal. I do. Remember, I mean. Everything he did to people.
Everything? Elrohir demanded. All of it? At once?
She laughed grimly.
No, not all at once. That would be too easy. Just when I meet people. I almost lost my mind the first night in Lórien – I met both Estë and Irmo at once.
When you meet people? Elladan asked in a strangled tone. Little sister, you do understand how many relatives you are not going to be able to avoid meeting?
“Gee, no, I hadn’t thought about that at all,” she retorted. “I figured I could get away with just hanging out at home and maybe the occasional visit to Grandmother and Grandfather.”
She paused. Her brothers were looking worried enough that it didn’t feel like an abstract concern about sometime in the future.
Who did Tinu marry? she demanded nervously.
“Sorry, the situation is still not dire enough to risk Tinu holding it against us for the next yen or two,” Elrohir replied. “But yes, that could be a problem. Particularly if you weren’t meaning to let her in on this.”
“Are you daft?” she snorted.
If Tinu finds out, it’s only a matter of time until Ada does. And I am not telling him.
Her brothers nodded, following the logic immediately.
How does it work? Elrohir asked thoughtfully. Do you remember immediately?
She shook her head.
When I sleep. It’s like Arda’s Least Funny Home Videos.
“And you stay sleeping peacefully?” Elladan said skeptically. Without attempting to slay anything?
“Yeah… I’m working on that,” Anariel admitted. Which is why I need your help, especially now when there’s bound to be relatives that will trigger particularly unpleasant sessions. If anyone wakes me, it starts over from the beginning!
Elladan’s jaw dropped.
You have a real talent for angering powerful enemies, little sister, Elrohir whistled. Any chance this has dissuaded you from your long term goal of ‘hitting Morgoth really hard’?
“You’re kidding, right?” Anariel shot back. “Not even close.”
Hm. Does this mean you’ll remember all about Uncle Aegnor and Uncle Angrod tonight? Elrohir asked.
Uncle Angrod I already met in Lórien, Anariel admitted. And Uncle Finrod.
FINROD?
Elladan and Elrohir had spoken as one. Before this evening, it might have been envy that prompted the outburst, but now it was horror. They knew full well how their grandmother’s eldest brother’s first life had ended – though not as well as Anariel now did.
Elrohir recovered first.
Not important right now, he said, though he sounded rather shaken. What of Uncle Aegnor?
Anariel shrugged.
Not sure, she admitted. I mean, I heard his voice, and I probably saw him from a distance in Valimar. I was actually trying not to notice him once I got into the woods. But I didn’t talk to him, or touch his mind directly. So I don’t know. I’m not sure how much it takes to set it off.
I guess we’ll find out, Elladan sighed. If not, at least you’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight.
Anariel looked at him sharply.
Did Tinu marry someone from the First Age? she asked suspiciously.
“Nope, lips are sealed,” Elladan laughed.
“Minds as well,” Elrohir added.
But why the First Age? he asked. Is it only the First Age that you get these memories for?
Not exactly, Anariel said slowly. I saw some things for Grandmother beyond the First Age. And some vague stuff for Ada and Nana into the Second Age. So far almost nothing from the Third Age.
“Almost nothing is not nothing,” Elrohir pointed out. “And it does not make sense.”
It does if you factor in Sauron the Snitch, Anariel replied.
She’d had plenty of time to think about how Morgoth could know anything at all beyond the part of the First Age where he’d been kicked out, and that was the only thing that made sense. It was just as well the Numenoreans had been mortal. She suspected there would have been some absolutely killer highlight reels from the last days of the island.
“Mmm,” Elladan said noncommittally. “You’ve given us much to think on. Perhaps you should call it an early night.”
Anariel sighed. She understood the logic. Even if she was going to get a front row seat to the Sudden Flame (again), if she turned in now, she might still get some rest. And if she didn’t get the Uncle Aegnor dream tonight, she’d get a decent night’s sleep to set her up for whatever tomorrow would bring.
“I would wish you pleasant dreams,” Elladan said quietly. “But under the circumstances…”
“I’ll take all the help I can get,” Anariel sighed.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-06 04:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-08-07 03:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-08-06 03:00 pm (UTC)As for Tinu not finding out, that's highly unlikely, at least if she's around while Anariel is sleeping, since I doubt Anariel can shield her mind that much in her sleep. And the same goes for anyone else who has even a small talent for osanwë and decides to have a peek at whatever is causing Anariel's nightmares. :-p
This was an excellent chapter and I can't wait for tomorrow. Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2021-08-07 03:46 am (UTC)Anariel may not be good at shielding just yet, but she's very keen to make sure her little sister doesn't find out...
no subject
Date: 2021-08-30 02:20 pm (UTC)Poor all, though - so not fun news for everybody; for the twins about Anariel's issue, and for Anariel what's waiting for her... *gives big hugs to them all*
no subject
Date: 2021-09-07 01:35 am (UTC)Anariel is...getting used to it.