Never Realizing

Chapter 14 : An Introduction and an Ending

“Not another one!” Linque groaned as he entered the room and saw one more golden blonde head among the family. “Can’t you have another child that looks like me?” he asked, standing next to Celeblaer and smiling.

“I can’t help it if my features are just so much more dominant,” Legolas said, all smiles today. Fanya looked up at her husband from her bed and knew she knew that smile. It was the same one he had worn for every one of their children’s births.

“I tried, Father, but it is true. Aren’t you happy with one?”

Linque beamed and kissed his daughter’s head. “Not at all. He get’s three-”

“Two,” Ana interrupted. “You know I look like mother.” She shook her curly hair out of its clasp and the whole family laughed.

“Your hair is still fair,” Linque replied. “And that is simply unacceptable to a poor grandfather-” Linque was interrupted by a joyous exclamation from none other than Thranduil himself.

“Excellent! Let me see the elfling.” Thranduil caught sight of the baby and gave a whoop. “He looks just like you, son.” He clapped Legolas on the shoulder and beamed.

“Now, Thranduil, you do not need to gloat,” Fanya laughed.

“I mostly certainly do. I have a beautiful grandson AND I have won a bet!”

Linque grinned sheepishly when Fanya turned and exclaimed, “Father! You were betting on my son?”

“I know, my darling, I simply could not resist,” Linque smiled. He kissed the crown of her head and stood.

“What is his name?” Thranduil asked with a hopeful smile.

“Now, Father. You know we cannot tell you yet,” Legolas said, gazing fondly down at his youngest son. “You shall have to wait for the presentation, like everyone else.”

“Fine, but you had better name this one after me. I’ve given you three tries and you have disappointed me thus far,” Thranduil replied cheerily.

As per tradition, the naming ceremony was held a week after the birth. Many people gathered in the great hall and Fanya and Legolas were receiving the well-wishers who wanted to meet the youngest prince, and their sons were sitting at a table together, trying to look inconspicuous. Ana sat down at the table with a soft ‘whump’ and said, “Ugh, this is exhausting. So many people are here!”

“You have no idea, Ana,” Celeblaer said to her, rolling his eyes. This is the third time I have had to do this!”

“I suppose it is,” Ana said. “How was my ceremony?”

“Awful,” both brothers said in unison.

“Not as many people but…” Celeblaer added.

“You would not stop wailing. We had to end the ceremony early because people were starting to complain of headaches,” Elfaer continued.

“And you have not stopped making noise since…” Celeblaer finished. Ana pouted and hit his arm.

“You two are so cruel,” she said, though she was smiling a little.

“Look at our grandfathers. They know how to have a good time,” Elfaer said with an amused smile. Thranduil and Linque were strutting around like proud roosters, all puffed up and looking important. They were speaking with various elves who all looked rather amused by their show.

“Wait until Eluin and I have children. I wonder how they will react,” Celeblaer said, amused.

“Do us all a favor and wait for us to recover from this one,” Elfaer smirked. “Or just neglect to mention it to them at all.”

“I’d try but I don’t think that is possible, brother,” Celeblaer replied with a conspiratorial smile. “An elf with child is hard to hide.”

The affair, despite the siblings’ complaints, turned out very nicely in the end. The child’s name was announced at sundown, by Fanya.

“Canthuil is his name,” she said without pretense or show. She and Legolas grinned as Thranduil gave out a whoop. A ripple of laughter went around the crowd.

“Canthuil,” Elfaer and Celeblaer repeated with wide grins. The name was suitable.

Ana looked less amused. “Are you aware that our little brother is named-”

“’The fourth’, yes,” Celeblaer interrupted. “What cheek…”

Thranduil was seen later that evening holding Canthuil and speaking with Legolas happily. “What a fine name, resonant of his grandfather.” He puffed up his chest.

“Thranduil, you old toad, you can fill a room with that pride of yours,” Fanya said. “Now hand me my baby so he can be fed and get some rest.”

“Certainly, my darling,” Thranduil said, passing over the child delicately. “Anything for you. Goodnight little one!” Thranduil cooed. Legolas laughed. “What?” Thranduil asked.

“I never tire of the way you act around children,” Legolas answered, completely amused.

“You just wait until Celeblaer and Eluin start their own family,” Thranduil said knowingly. “Now, have a drink, son, and let us celebrate for the night!”

Celeblaer, Eluin, and Ana left Elfaer alone after a while, and Elfaer actually found himself a little lonely after a time. People everywhere were laughing, dancing, talking, and generally enjoying themselves. Elfaer knew that the elves enjoyed any excuse to mingle and drink wine, especially the wood elves formerly of Eryn Lasgalen. There was talk of a forest circle that night, and Elfaer found himself tempted to go.

‘What a way to finish the night,’ he thought.

Elfaer rose and made his way through the crowd to leave. He had made up his mind to leave, drink, and dance. Perhaps he would find a lover at the forest circle. It would certainly break the monotony…

Suddenly his arm was snatched, and Elfaer felt his body being tugged through the throng towards the door.

“Yes?” Elfaer said, going on the defensive when he saw who had caught him.

“You,” Alagos spat at him.

“I have nothing to say to you,” Elfaer said, trying to move away from the elf, and the possible confrontation that would follow.

“I won’t let you get off so easily, Greenleaf,” Alagos threatened.

“Don’t do this tonight, Alagos. You’ve been drinking and you are not yourself.”

“I will do this tonight! You ruined me! You stole my love out from under me! I’ll never let this go,” Alagos bellowed.

“I did none of those things, Alagos, and you know it,” Elfaer reasoned. However, Alagos would hear none of it. He opened his mouth to retort, when,

“Alagos,” a feminine voice interjected. Alagos stopped. It was Tathen. “Alagos, stop,” she plead.

Alagos stopped.

“Leave Elfaer be. He did not take me away from you, I did not come back.” She sounded tired, like she had been laboring under the weight for a very long time. Alagos looked crestfallen. He seemed to sober up and did not reply. “I am sorry, Alagos.” She turned to leave and walked into the darkness.

Elfaer left too, before Alagos could react. Elfaer did not want to be around for either a negative and explosive reaction or a negative and self-pitying reaction, so he hurried off after Tathen.

Tathen had not gotten too far. She was walking along the main road, arms crossed across her middle, almost hugging herself.

“Tathen!” Elfaer called. She did not stop. “Tathen, are you all right?” he asked, once he came level with her.

“I’m fine, Elfaer, I just need… I wish I had not had to do that,” she said, more to herself than to Elfaer.

“It’s not your-”

“Yes, it is, Elfaer. If I had not avoided him for an entire year, this would not have happened. I…” she stopped, seeming to lose all of her vocal momentum. “I do not want to do this to you, but I cannot deal with this right now. I… I’ll see you around, Elfaer.” She sped up. “Goodbye…”

She walked off into the night, leaving Elfaer in her wake, having no idea what had just happened, or what he could possibly do next.

He stood there for a moment, silently, then turned and walked home.