grundyscribbling (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
grundyscribbling) wrote2024-08-28 10:15 pm
grundyscribbling) wrote2024-08-28 10:15 pm
Entry tags:
Day 28 - By the Sea
Title: By The Sea
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: LotR/Silmarillion
Disclaimer: All belongs to Whedon & Tolkien. No money is being made here, it's all in good fun.
Summary: Anariel has found a happy place.
Word Count: 1210
Note: Skipping a bit to get Anariel where I want her by the end of the month... I'll fill in some of the missing bits later.
Anariel floated on her back, looking up at the stars. The Lindar of Alqualondë really did mean it about living with the Sea. No one thought it the least bit odd if she wanted to go look at the stars from the water.
She’d had a mostly quiet week since midsummer. Well, quiet aside from the family dinner at the palace.
There had been a lot of kin waiting in the courtyard to meet her. Enough that she’d had a split second where she considered turning around and walking right back to the boat. Only her grandmother’s hand in the small of her back and her grandfather’s quiet you faced balrogs, there’s nothing to fear from cousins kept her in place.
“Also you won’t get that new sweater Aunty mentioned if you run away,” Elwing murmured.
That was dirty pool. Worse, it worked.
She’d gone in.
Then she’d gotten distracted by the fountain and mosaics, to general merriment.
When they’d coaxed her away from the courtyard, she discovered to her delight that the closest to a formal dining hall the family section of the palace had was open to the gardens and nowhere near as formal as Tirion. Better, it being such a nice evening, they were skipping even that and just eating in the garden.
Out in the open air, she didn’t feel overly crowded or like the latest shiny thing as she met Solo’s parents, siblings, uncle, and cousins of the non-Noldor variety. She’d also discovered that there were a few already familiar faces.
Grandma Eärwen wasn’t entirely a surprise, even if her being perfectly cheerful about the whole skipping Tirion thing was. But Anariel hadn’t expected Gran Lindë to be there – how had no one ever mentioned that haru had married Súyelírë’s niece – Grandma Eärwen’s first cousin?
She had needed a moment after that clarification, because while the generational thing didn’t strike her as quite so weird after her sister marrying Maeglin, the match meant haru was also related to Círdan. Which suggested whenever he came back from Mandos there were going to be even more interesting family reunions than she’d expected. She knew perfectly well Círdan was still quietly hacked off about Sirion; he must be itching to give his nephew by marriage a piece of his mind.
It also made the First Kinslaying a little twistier and less comprehensible.
She was starting to feel like ‘family tree’ was an inadequate expression when it came to her family. More like family kudzu…
What is this kudzu, my sunbird?
Jumping in surprise while floating on one’s back in water was an interesting sensation. Happily, she managed to avoid getting water up her nose.
“It’s a plant that grew in some regions of California. In the areas it was native to, it wasn’t a problem. But in other areas, where it was an accidental transplant, it ran rampant and overgrew everything.”
She offered Melian the memory of a photo she’d once seen of kudzu growing over trees, fences, and even a house.
That seems rather out of balance, Melian said disapprovingly.
“Yeah, a little.”
And this resembles your family how?
“Growing outwards in all directions,” she shrugged.
There was a quiet pause.
I suppose it is a fair analogy. However, sunbird, there are still segments of your kudzu curious to meet you at last. If you wish to travel with Oropher, he will be departing the day after tomorrow.
“Is this a roundabout way of saying you want me to come?”
Of course I wish you to come. I will be pleased to see you, Elu will be more than pleased, and Celeborn is impatient to show you off.
“Grandmother and Grandfather are there?” she asked, popping upright. “When did that happen?”
You’ve been some weeks among the sea-Lindar, that was more than sufficient time for them to travel to Neldoreth.
Doubtless with Eöl.
And Aredhel, and the little one. Daeron and Merilin are back also. They all wish to see your introduction to the woodland-Lindar. I’m not sure if it’s Elmo or his sons who are most eager to finally see you.
That sounded like a pretty substantial section of the kudzu.
“What about Ada and Nana? And my brothers?”
I will invite them also if you wish their presence. They returned to Elrond’s house.
“Only if they want to come,” Anariel amended, well aware that Melian and elves were not exactly on the same page and her brothers were just starting the book. “Are you telling Oropher to expect me or am I?”
Ah, you are coming. Excellent. I have told him. They will expect you at Three Brothers Beach the hour after dawn.
Melian would have withdrawn, but Anariel had the hang of talking to her now without needing to shout.
“Dress code?” she prompted. “Also, are we walking? Riding? Taking the maia express?”
Walking, I believe. Legolas is still learning the land just as you are.
Anariel suppressed a snort. By Sindarin standards, both of them would still be ‘learning’ for at least a long-year.
Patience, sunbird. You will at least know the way well enough after only a few years. As for clothing, dress as you see fit. I’m sure your usual clothes will do very well for the journey.
Melian did withdraw at that, utterly uninterested in fashion choices. Given for her ‘clothes’ were little more than thoughts, Anariel suspected she didn’t quite get the need to plan them in advance. She hoped Gramma Elwing would be more help. She knew enough to not wear any of the wilder flights of Noldorin fancy, but she had no idea what Neldoreth considered fashionable at any point in time.
She would definitely take the new sweater. Gran Súyelírë had delivered, and was pleased with the effect of the greens she’d chosen.
Actually…
You guys up for a road trip? she asked Arador and Solo.
You’re loud, Solo responded crankily.
Sorry, didn’t check if you were already sleeping, she said penitently.
I’m up for a road trip if it’s Neldoreth, Arador announced. This I wanna see.
I’ll go provided you let me go back to sleep now.
Sweet dreams, she said, adjusting her tone to a whisper.
Go pack, Arador snickered. His attitude suggested Solo was going to hear about his crankiness tomorrow.
Anariel sighed as she paddled over to her grandparents’ dock. She’d discovered a couple days ago that while she could climb up the ladder on one side, the water would actually lift her up if she asked nicely. And walking back over the dock meant not tracking beach sand onto the terrace.
She had already suggested an outdoor shower at the foot of the garden, but her grandfather hadn’t gotten to it yet. (He was back to nightly cruises with Vingilot, which meant not a lot of time for building projects during the day. And she was going to have to tell him in the morning she’d been more or less told it was time other relatives got their turn.)
Maybe Gramma Elwing would come along?
Either way, she’d go meet the kin in Neldoreth, but after that, she was either going home or coming back here. She had a good hundred years of lack of beach time to catch up on.
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: LotR/Silmarillion
Disclaimer: All belongs to Whedon & Tolkien. No money is being made here, it's all in good fun.
Summary: Anariel has found a happy place.
Word Count: 1210
Note: Skipping a bit to get Anariel where I want her by the end of the month... I'll fill in some of the missing bits later.
Anariel floated on her back, looking up at the stars. The Lindar of Alqualondë really did mean it about living with the Sea. No one thought it the least bit odd if she wanted to go look at the stars from the water.
She’d had a mostly quiet week since midsummer. Well, quiet aside from the family dinner at the palace.
There had been a lot of kin waiting in the courtyard to meet her. Enough that she’d had a split second where she considered turning around and walking right back to the boat. Only her grandmother’s hand in the small of her back and her grandfather’s quiet you faced balrogs, there’s nothing to fear from cousins kept her in place.
“Also you won’t get that new sweater Aunty mentioned if you run away,” Elwing murmured.
That was dirty pool. Worse, it worked.
She’d gone in.
Then she’d gotten distracted by the fountain and mosaics, to general merriment.
When they’d coaxed her away from the courtyard, she discovered to her delight that the closest to a formal dining hall the family section of the palace had was open to the gardens and nowhere near as formal as Tirion. Better, it being such a nice evening, they were skipping even that and just eating in the garden.
Out in the open air, she didn’t feel overly crowded or like the latest shiny thing as she met Solo’s parents, siblings, uncle, and cousins of the non-Noldor variety. She’d also discovered that there were a few already familiar faces.
Grandma Eärwen wasn’t entirely a surprise, even if her being perfectly cheerful about the whole skipping Tirion thing was. But Anariel hadn’t expected Gran Lindë to be there – how had no one ever mentioned that haru had married Súyelírë’s niece – Grandma Eärwen’s first cousin?
She had needed a moment after that clarification, because while the generational thing didn’t strike her as quite so weird after her sister marrying Maeglin, the match meant haru was also related to Círdan. Which suggested whenever he came back from Mandos there were going to be even more interesting family reunions than she’d expected. She knew perfectly well Círdan was still quietly hacked off about Sirion; he must be itching to give his nephew by marriage a piece of his mind.
It also made the First Kinslaying a little twistier and less comprehensible.
She was starting to feel like ‘family tree’ was an inadequate expression when it came to her family. More like family kudzu…
What is this kudzu, my sunbird?
Jumping in surprise while floating on one’s back in water was an interesting sensation. Happily, she managed to avoid getting water up her nose.
“It’s a plant that grew in some regions of California. In the areas it was native to, it wasn’t a problem. But in other areas, where it was an accidental transplant, it ran rampant and overgrew everything.”
She offered Melian the memory of a photo she’d once seen of kudzu growing over trees, fences, and even a house.
That seems rather out of balance, Melian said disapprovingly.
“Yeah, a little.”
And this resembles your family how?
“Growing outwards in all directions,” she shrugged.
There was a quiet pause.
I suppose it is a fair analogy. However, sunbird, there are still segments of your kudzu curious to meet you at last. If you wish to travel with Oropher, he will be departing the day after tomorrow.
“Is this a roundabout way of saying you want me to come?”
Of course I wish you to come. I will be pleased to see you, Elu will be more than pleased, and Celeborn is impatient to show you off.
“Grandmother and Grandfather are there?” she asked, popping upright. “When did that happen?”
You’ve been some weeks among the sea-Lindar, that was more than sufficient time for them to travel to Neldoreth.
Doubtless with Eöl.
And Aredhel, and the little one. Daeron and Merilin are back also. They all wish to see your introduction to the woodland-Lindar. I’m not sure if it’s Elmo or his sons who are most eager to finally see you.
That sounded like a pretty substantial section of the kudzu.
“What about Ada and Nana? And my brothers?”
I will invite them also if you wish their presence. They returned to Elrond’s house.
“Only if they want to come,” Anariel amended, well aware that Melian and elves were not exactly on the same page and her brothers were just starting the book. “Are you telling Oropher to expect me or am I?”
Ah, you are coming. Excellent. I have told him. They will expect you at Three Brothers Beach the hour after dawn.
Melian would have withdrawn, but Anariel had the hang of talking to her now without needing to shout.
“Dress code?” she prompted. “Also, are we walking? Riding? Taking the maia express?”
Walking, I believe. Legolas is still learning the land just as you are.
Anariel suppressed a snort. By Sindarin standards, both of them would still be ‘learning’ for at least a long-year.
Patience, sunbird. You will at least know the way well enough after only a few years. As for clothing, dress as you see fit. I’m sure your usual clothes will do very well for the journey.
Melian did withdraw at that, utterly uninterested in fashion choices. Given for her ‘clothes’ were little more than thoughts, Anariel suspected she didn’t quite get the need to plan them in advance. She hoped Gramma Elwing would be more help. She knew enough to not wear any of the wilder flights of Noldorin fancy, but she had no idea what Neldoreth considered fashionable at any point in time.
She would definitely take the new sweater. Gran Súyelírë had delivered, and was pleased with the effect of the greens she’d chosen.
Actually…
You guys up for a road trip? she asked Arador and Solo.
You’re loud, Solo responded crankily.
Sorry, didn’t check if you were already sleeping, she said penitently.
I’m up for a road trip if it’s Neldoreth, Arador announced. This I wanna see.
I’ll go provided you let me go back to sleep now.
Sweet dreams, she said, adjusting her tone to a whisper.
Go pack, Arador snickered. His attitude suggested Solo was going to hear about his crankiness tomorrow.
Anariel sighed as she paddled over to her grandparents’ dock. She’d discovered a couple days ago that while she could climb up the ladder on one side, the water would actually lift her up if she asked nicely. And walking back over the dock meant not tracking beach sand onto the terrace.
She had already suggested an outdoor shower at the foot of the garden, but her grandfather hadn’t gotten to it yet. (He was back to nightly cruises with Vingilot, which meant not a lot of time for building projects during the day. And she was going to have to tell him in the morning she’d been more or less told it was time other relatives got their turn.)
Maybe Gramma Elwing would come along?
Either way, she’d go meet the kin in Neldoreth, but after that, she was either going home or coming back here. She had a good hundred years of lack of beach time to catch up on.