Title: LotR Advent
Challenge: Secret Slipper Pt. 6/24
Author: Deathangelgw
Disclaimer: They aren't
mine, but damned if I didn't wish that they were.
Warnings: AU, sap, fluff,
silliness
Pairings: Haldir, Rumil,
Orophin, Celeborn, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Galadriel, Celebrian, Elrond
Rating: PG
Summary: Day Six of the
Advent Challenge-> The three young Elflings of Elrond and Imladris learn a new
way to use their slippers.
Beta: none since I want to
get this posted right away, so any mistakes are all MINE!
A/N: This is for an Advent
Challenge that I had posted/taken up. Each day will be a different
person/pairing from LotR. I'd like to thank Iniquity for keeping this up and
wish everyone a blessed Christmas! Enjoy! Please review!
‘thoughts’
"Haldir! Haldir! Elrohir
took my slippers again!" little Arwen cried as she ran in, her chubby legs
pumping her towards her favorite Galadhel as fast as she could go as she sobbed.
She was scooped up into strong arms and looked tearfully up at Haldir. "He took
my slippers! I want them back!" she demanded as she sniffled while big fat tears
ran down her plump cheeks.
"He did, did he? Well, we
must not have that, now must we?" Haldir asked with an indulgent rub of her
back, smiling over at Rumil as his brother chuckled quietly in amusement at her
'predicament'. "Where did Elrohir run off to?" he asked as they started walking.
Sniffling, Arwen pointed a
little finger up towards her grandparents' talan, where the two Galadhil already
knew was where her parents and grandparents were working on the little surprise
that she would be receiving the next day. Glancing at each other with a smile
before obligingly heading for the talan, Rumil and Haldir worked on cheering up
the distressed Elfling as they went along the connecting bridges and staircases.
They came to the warm talan and knocked. "My Lady? We have a victim of a slipper
stealing prank here and it would seem that the culprit is hiding within your talan," Haldir called out softly, waving his hand at his snickering brother to
shush him.
The door opened slowly after
a minute and Galadriel beamed at them before holding her arms out to her
granddaughter. "And what crime is this, pen neth?" she asked soothingly as Arwen
moved into her arms and laid her dark head on her grandmother's shoulder. (small
one)
"Elrohir stole my slippers!
He said that then the slipper fairy can not give me presents if he has my
slippers! What are slipper fairies?" Arwen demanded, sniffling as her lip
quivered in the starting of a pout.
"Why, slipper fairies are
fairies that give gifts to good Elflings every year on this night!" Galadriel
proclaimed excitedly, smiling as Arwen's eyes lit up in delight.
"Gifts?! But why?" Arwen
asked as they sat down and she adjusted herself so she was sitting comfortably
on her grandmother's lap. Haldir and Rumil grinned at each other as they
followed their lady and the Elfling inside. They nodded in greeting to Orophin
and Celebrian as they worked on the 'slipper fairy gifts'.
Celebrian was busy sewing
little beads to a cloth that Orophin was intently sewing together. They both
chuckled with the inquiry as they looked over as Elrond came in. "Why what, pen
neth?" Elrond asked fondly as he went over to his mother-in-law and daughter.
"Adaaaa! Elrohir stole my
slippers and Iaurnaneth is not telling me why a fairy needs my slippers!" Arwen
cried, huffing as sniffled and did a full body stomp since she couldn't stomp
her feet. (father; Grandmother)
"Hush now, pen neth…allow
your Iaurnaneth to tell you the story, but let us retrieve your naughty brothers. Elrohir! Elladan! Come in here this minute!" Elrond raised his voice, commanding
his sons to appear.
The curtain to Galadriel and
Celeborn's room shifted and parted, revealing a very guilty looking set of twins
before a very stern looking Celeborn. They shuffled inside after an encouraging
prod from Celeborn and came before their distressed sister and angered father.
"Aye Ada?" they asked simultaneously as they looked down at their feet.
"What is this that Arwen is
saying you stole her slippers?" Elrond questioned his sons firmly as he crossed
his arms over his chest, cocking an eyebrow sternly at them as they looked at
each other.
They looked up at him, and
then shuffled in their spot once again uncomfortably. Finally, Elrohir blurted
out the reason. "Ell'dan said that 'wen would find a bigger gift than us 'cause
she is the baby!" He looked down as Elladan glared at him and Arwen sniffled.
"Elladan…Elrohir…you both
know that the slipper fairies are generous to those who deserve it. Are you
saying that you do not deserve it?" Galadriel asked gently, smiling at them as
they looked up in alarm at her.
"Nay, Iaurnaneth! But…but
Arwen is everyone's favorite and…and…" Elladan sniffled, and then blinked as
their ada's strong arms wrapped around them and held them close.
"We carry no favorites in
this family, my sons. And the fairies are impartial. They will love her as they
love you both, just as we do," Elrond murmured tenderly as his sons snuggled
close, sniffling. "Now…shall we ask Iaurnaneth for the story of the slipper
fairies?" he queried teasingly, beaming at his sons as they looked up at him
excitedly.
"Aye!" the two cried eagerly
as they faced their grandmother expectantly. But, they saw the pouting Arwen
and, after a nudging contest, Elrohir jumped off Elrond's lap and ran to the
bedroom once more. He returned, carrying the captured slippers. "We are sorry,
'wen. We did not mean to hurt your feelings," he said apologetically as he put
them back onto her little feet.
She giggled and hugged him
tightly, nuzzling close. "S'all right, 'hir! I wuv you still!" she proclaimed
lovingly after letting him go. He grinned and ran back to their ada to settle in
for the much anticipated story.
Galadriel smiled fondly as
she snuggled Arwen closer to her. “All right…now, let us start. A long time ago,
there were little fairies that lived within these very woods. They were kind,
loving fairies, peaceful and helpful to any who saw them. But, one day, they
were found and nearly destroyed by a group of Orcs…save for two. They traveled
in the woods, singing mournfully for their lost brethren as they wandered
aimlessly.”
“What happened to them,
Iaurnaneth? Did they gets hurted?” Arwen asked as she sucked on her thumb, her
eyes wide with wonder and sorrow.
“No, they did not become
injured, for they found in the center of the woods a talan. The first of the
talans to be precise, for this happened at the time that Amdir and some of our
fellow Edhil had started to settle down in the Golden Wood. They had destroyed
the Orcs that had invaded and destroyed the fairies in their undertaking of
settling. Now, the little ones saw these Elves and took heart at their song and
gentleness, then fluttered into King Amdir’s home. There, they saw on the ground
a pair of silken slippers that sparkled in the sunlight. Delighted and suddenly
very weary, they went into the slippers and curled up, falling into dreams
immediately. While they slept, Amdir returned and, shocked, found the last of
the fairies from the wood in his slippers. Moved to pity, he gently placed
scraps of satin on them, tucking their shivering bodies in securely before going
to retrieve berries, honey, and water. When they awoke, they found the food and
drink and the gentle Elven King watching them pleasantly. They were afraid, but
then noticed that he had not hurt them and had kept them warm.” Galadriel ran
her fingers through Arwen’s hair, smiling at their absorbed gazes.
“But he did not hurt them
and soon, they were fed and comfortably playing with Amdir. They told of their
sad tale and Amdir offered them a home with him. They stayed with him until the
end of their lives, sleeping in his slippers. And at the end of their lives,
they gave him a special gift: a small gem made of their tears and love. The gems
would sparkle with the sun, go blue with his sorrow, and pure white with his
joy. After that, Amdir declared that, as a sign of love and remembrance of the
two fairies that had given him years of happiness and friendship, the slippers
of all would be put out for the fairies to sleep in on one night. It was the
night that they had first come to his talan and, since then, all of the people’s
of Lothlórien celebrated that friendship. For every time their slippers were
out, a small gem appeared within the slippers.”
“That was lovely,
Iaurnaneth! And they will come tonight?” Arwen asked excitedly as she clapped
his hands. “Can we see them?”
“Nay, young one. But, if you
are lucky, just as you are falling asleep, you will hear them sing,” Haldir
answered softly as he smiled at her.
“Aye. Now come then! It is
time for bed!” Elrond ordered briskly as he stood with the twins. He put Elladan
on his shoulder, and then grinned as the twins helped Arwen into his hold so
they could all hang on him. Their giggles and waves brought smiles to the
adults’ faces as they left.
“Are you sure we should keep
this old child’s story continuing?” Celebrian asked as she finished stitching
her project.
“Do you not believe anymore,
sellen?” Celeborn asked quietly as he sat next to Galadriel. (my daughter)
“Ada…it is just a tale and
we place these jeweled clothes in the slippers,” Celebrian replied in
exasperation.
“Nay, they are not. Those
are a part of a quilt that I make every year, sellen,” Galadriel corrected her
daughter warmly as she smiled at her daughter’s stunned gaze. “Have you not
heard the song of the slipper fairies?”
“I…I thought I had when I
was young…” Celebrian trailed off as her parents and the three Galadhil looked
at her in sympathy. Confused, she set her finished piece down and stood. “I
think I shall retire now as well,” she murmured before leaving the room.
Celeborn and Galadriel smiled at each other as the three Ellyn finished and took
their leave as well.
The next day, the children’s
squeals of delight could be heard throughout the talans as they discovered the
fairies’ gifts. Galadriel and Celeborn smiled warmly along with Elrond and
Celebrian as they watched the children show off their gems and danced around.
Galadriel looked at her daughter and smiled as she saw the peaceful cast on the
gentle face. “You look at peace, sellen.”
“Nana…I did not know that
the song was so peaceful,” Celebrian replied quietly. Galadriel just smiled and
nodded before refocusing on her grandchildren. Once more, the love of the
fairies had brought peace to their hearts.
~Fin
