Family matters
The trip to the Dale, the human settlement by Erebor, went smoothly. Thranduil had sent with them someone that could discuss any trade deals with Ellis. The man apparently had some standing in the city and proved to be an excellent contact. Hopefully with an official point of contact, Gilriant could get away without any pretentious men trying to get his attention. He couldn’t quite get away from the protective formation around him, though it was far more relaxed.
There were a few extra guards with the inclusion of Legolas and the councilor. It freed up his personal guard to watch him, Haldir and the prince instead of their horses or anything else. It also gave a reason for why they were staying in the Dale, rather than in the mountain, already having lodging set up. The settlement was growing, improvements to what was already there and new buildings going up.
In fact, part of his dwarven family had one of them. Traders they were, so having a dwarven trading presence within the city made sense. It also gave the elves a place and another reason to spend time there. After all, part of their purpose was to set up trading. In return Gilriant had been sending a few things via Hedwig to help secure the building. There would always be a place here for any elves if needed. Which in some ways made Falin an envoy in some ways. At least he was far more diplomatic than most dwarves. It was gaining their family some status, more likely to be listened to and respected.
They had also taken to heart his warning about what he sensed so far. They balanced their time between the mountain and the new town. Enough to hopefully give them a clear sighted gaze in the mountain. So if something more did happen, they would catch on to it. Not a perfect solution and Gilriant had warned them if it grew strong, or started to, he would be forced to intervene.
For now they were seated around a table, the two pebbles immediately claiming their elven uncle’s attention. Even though Legolas was wary of the dwarves, their children softened that. “Hmm presents, presents, I do think I brought some presents, didn’t I Haldir?” With a smile he looked over to the marchwarden. The children had been practicing their common speech, so that is what they used. “Well you did mention that you were bringing things for children, so yes.” He passed over the bag to the young elf.
Ravin and Briel forgot about the toys for a moment when they realized the size of the bag and how much was being pulled out of it was different. “Is that a magic bag?” Ravin asked, wide-eyed. Gilriant leaned towards them with a conspiratorial tone. “It is bigger on the inside. Have to be careful who you tell about it. I’m afraid I only have the one. It came from the world of my birth and I have no way back to get another.” Then promptly distracted them with the elven toys he brought out. Quite different in style from dwarven ones. However when he made an off handed remark, many of the elves were happy to provide toys for the children. Insisted on it.
While the children were distracted, Gilriant pulled out a box and put it on the table. “I have no idea if you could make use of this or not, but thought I would bring it along and ask.” Opening it up revealed a collection of forks, spoons and knives for the table. “Making basic utensils helps with learning other skills in the forge. Or if I want a change from making arrowheads for keeping basic skills sharp.” Which he certainly spent his time doing. Brenin picked one up. “This is much more fine than any we have. We can certainly make use of it.Thank you.” Duviel agreed, picking one up as well. “I’ve not often seen such smooth work outside of those intended for the high table.” The young elf shrugged a shoulder. “It is good practice for other things.”
Legolas had gotten pulled in to helping the children with the toys. That was part of your plan, wasn’t it? Haldir was amused. Of course it was. What elf can resist a child? Getting to know the children he will see how their parents and family care for them. It will help him see past race and see the individual. Of course Legolas wasn’t the only one that had gotten involved in the childrens’ antics. Which just further proved his point. One of the methods you used to befriend other races was to be the child. Gilriant just grinned at that observation from the marchwarden. Of course, the only race I might have had difficulty with was men, and the Dunedain foster their chieftains at Imladris.
That brought about its own twinge of pain and loss. The first Dunedain child he had known had already grown up and died. The lives of Rangers were often cut short. Now his son, another friend of his, was the chieftain. He knew why Elrond continued to foster them. Even though they knew each one would be lost to old age or injury. They were descended from his twin, and the last link the elven lord had to him. That was more than enough to be unable to resist being involved. There are many many groups of men. I cannot use that on all of them now. But I can try to get to know more. For now it was time to focus on his adopted brothers and their family.
He pulled out two more long parcels wrapped in a soft hide, “Falin, Talin, these are for you.” He handed one to each of them. “As you are aware, not all elves have the exact same traditions. I was raised as a Noldor, with of course the others contributing to it.” He flashed Haldir a quick smile. Some silvan practices definitely got slipped in through the marchwarden. Sindan from his friendship with Legolas and where he was living right now. “For the Noldo, having a craft is a necessity. More of a question of how many you will choose to master rather than if you will. It is also tradition to make special things for your family.” Also part of courting customs but they didn’t need to know about that. “You have claimed me as family, well I claim you right back.”
Gilriant watched with a small smile as they unwrapped the blades. While neither was as long as Haldir’s they were imbued in a very similar fashion. “Blacksmithing obviously isn’t my main craft, so I focused on keeping them strong and clean. What I can do is blend my gift for song into the blades. So yes they are enchanted. To help prevent rust, keep them clean, keep them strong. I can bind them to your bloodline if you like.” Both dwarves startled a little at the glow when they drew the blades. It quickly faded away.
“Lad, these are good solid blades. Add in the enchantments, we’re about to have a great many people jealous.” Falin’s voice was full of sincerity. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had royals begging you for something like this.” Was Talin’s contribution. “Somehow I doubt that, but even if they were to ask, they would not get it. I only will only put so much of myself into things for family or whom I love. You are family, they would not be.”
Only to have Haldir poke him in the forehead. “Stop that. Stop doubting your skill. The only one you should be comparing yourself to, is you.” Gilriant knew what Haldir meant. He also knew the marchwarden would be on the lookout for comments like that in the future. So if he didn’t want the poking to escalate he would need to try to stop. “What he said,” Falin chimed in. “These are good blades. Beyond that they have something none of our smiths can even do. If you doubt me we can always take them to one of our master smiths for a judgement. Though they may want to see you craft one sometime.” The young elf just looked at them for a moment before responding. “There are a few more that I intend to craft with enchantments at some point. I would not object to making one while in the Dale.”
“Well get back to that point, first I want to ask, what does binding the blade to our bloodline entail?” Which was a very good question for Falin to ask. “It’s already set up to accept it if you want to include that. So no need to go back to the forge. Just a little bit of your blood that I sing into the blade. Once that is done, the sword can never be used against anyone in your bloodline, and only one of your blood would be able to wield it properly.” After considering the explanation, Falin asked, “What would happen if someone else tried to?” Gilriant quirked a grin. “Depends on the intent. If it’s without malicious intent, they’ll just get a mild shock and their hands will turn red for a week. If it’s malicious, and especially against your family, it's possible they would lose the hand entirely.” Talin barked out a laugh. “Well it would be worth it for that alone.”
“Haldir’s I did differently for a couple of reasons. I could bind his sword to his inherent magic. All elves have some. He’s also going to outlast the blade. He does have the ability to allow someone else to wield it short term, if he chooses.” Falin observed in a calm voice, “Where we will not outlive the blades.” That makes Gilriant still, though he does not sigh. “No, you will not.”
After a beat the young elf continues, “Which is why I am glad you made me part of your family, so that I might watch over it. One day I will lose you, and it will hurt. Having your family to continue to watch over will help.” A slight smile was on the young elf’s face. “How long do elves live?” The innocent question came from Ravin and Gilriant shifted to look at him. “Somewhat of an interesting question.
“Elves' souls are bound to the circles of this world, and very tightly to their bodies. Elven bodies stop maturing when we reach adulthood.” Briel was looking up with interest as well as their uncle patiently taught the young dwarves. “I will never look any older than I do now. However our bodies can be harmed to the point they no longer function, severing the tie between soul and body until the soul can heal enough to support a new body. Injury, very rare illness, or grief can all kill an elf. Then their soul goes to a place of healing in the west, where it remains.” Ravin’s face scrunched up in concentration. “So, one day I’ll look older than you?” Gilirant inclined his head. “Just so, just as I will always be your Uncle Crabandil” A hint of mischief started to creep into his tone.
Everyone that was currently in there was in on it, so they shifted. “Except for when I’m your Aunt Tauriel.” Briel gave a little gasp and scrambled over, happy to be scooped up by her aunt. “You are pretty!” The elleth laughed, “Well thank you.” “Will you do girl things with me and Amad?” With a tilt her head Tauriel considered that. “If your amad is comfortable with that. I don’t know if there is anything specific to dwarrowdams. For elleths, female elves, there aren’t many differences beyond the obvious, other than personal preferences.” Amused Duviel answered, “I would welcome the company. Dwarrowdams are fewer in number than dwarrow. So while not forbidden anything they are discouraged from certain things. And tend to be a bit more mannerly than dwarrow when they get together. We have a wider range of clothing styles and differences in braiding.” There was a good natured grin from Brenin at the mannerly comment.
“You have a dwarf braid, can I have an elf one?” Briel bounced in her lap, excited. “Ah, if you like. Though not all dwarves may respond well to such a thing.” The young dwarrowdam got a set expression on her face. “Don’t care. You are my aunt, so I get one of your braids.” Amused, Duviel looked at her daughter. “Well then, a good way to show you are proud of your family. We owe your aunt much, it's a little enough thing to do. Next thing you’ll be wanting archery lessons from elves.”
“I wouldn’t mind those archery lessons,” Ravin piped up. “Adad isn’t very good at it. Or the rest of our family.” Talin laughed. “Well you have the right of it. They are the experts after all. We are going to end up with some elven things in our family. No matter, family is family.” Tauriel wrapped up Briel in a hug, trying to get ahold of her overwhelming emotions.
It was one thing for the elves to accept an elf child, quite another for dwarves to accept an elf adult as family. Even though they had built their friendship since she was a child, their two races still had difficulties. Accepting her so thoroughly could mean difficulty for them. Yet they wanted to do it anyway. She really didn’t know what to do with that.
Oh, she must be broadcasting her emotions some, or they were strong enough they were leaking through her bonds to the two elves closest to her. Tauriel could feel Haldir’s warmth and soothing comfort and she could also feel Legolas’s concern for her. Bother, she really needed to get a handle on the heightened reaction to emotional situations right after shifting from one sex to another. The physical changes caused some key changes in her body chemistry. Which then could affect her emotional control.
“Aunt Tauriel, are you okay?” Briel’s worried voice had her pulling back to see the rest looking at her with concern. “Yes. I would apologize but Haldir might poke my forehead if I tried.” That caused the young dwarrowdam to giggle. “When I was very young, my birth parents died defending me. I was taken to my mother’s sister, and she did not want me. Eventually I found my father, and he adopted me rather rapidly and helped me get to the home of his son, my new brother Elrond in Imladris. Sometimes I have a hard time believing some things because of the treatment from my mother’s sister and her family.” A very abbreviated version of her story but the details were not important to convey the general reason for her being overwhelmed.
“Why wouldn’t anyone want you? That’s just crazy.” Ravin’s exclamation brought a bubble of laughter to Tauriel. “Well they weren’t elves who cherish all children, and I was very different from them. They did not like different. I wasn’t always an elf. When Atya helped me get here, I was reborn as one.” “Well they definitely weren’t dwarves,” Duviel interjected. “Dwarves cherish children as well. We have so few.” Tauriel kept a small smile on her face. It was true that dwarves had far fewer children than say men or hobbits. But far more than elves. “Either way, the point is that it can make me doubt myself. Which I keep working on.” Talin huffed, “So that’s why you were arguing about the quality of your blades, daft that.” She could feel the smug satisfaction from Haldir at their responses.
“About the archery lessons, I may not be the best teacher. I still can’t figure out why I’m better at it as Tauriel than Gilriant, Haldir don’t laugh.” She didn’t even bother to look at him. “Haldir is the one that gave me my first bow. Legolas over there took over my archery instruction once I proved to be much more proficient at it as an elleth.” The mentioned elven prince found him the focus of two young dwarves, both having a bit of wide-eyed pleading. “Ah, we could give it a try?” The resulting cheers and the reaction brought another bubble of laughter out of Tauriel.
“You’ll always have family with us lass, always.” Falin smiled at her.
*
Slowly Tauriel went through the various sword forms. She had gotten a sense of her balance and center of gravity solidly down. Now it was a matter of practicing the moves she already knew to retain new muscle memory. It made sense to her to make her primary weapons not the gift from her Atar. Instead a slim blade and a pair of daggers. The young elf had already been trained in their use. Glorfindel being very much of mind that one should not be hampered just because your favored weapon was not at hand. So it was more of adapting the muscle memory for her new shape and size. Quarter speed, half speed, and then full speed.
While she was by far what an elf would consider a sword master, she did solidly have the moves down. Elven reflexes and agility helped her to adapt quickly. The rest would just come with years and years of practice. Fluidly she danced with her blade. Making more moves and variations a part of this new muscle memory. Until her pattern was interrupted. Tauriel twisted and ducked under the blade that would have intercepted her own. Continuing the turn until she settled into a defensive position to face her new ‘opponent.’ “You have good instincts.”
She was really not expecting to be facing Thranduil. Keeping her grip on her blades she relaxed, straightening up. “Thank you, my King.” Crap, this wasn’t a part of her plans. “I was not expecting to have your attention. I am still in training.” He studied her with an idle air. “Yes, my son tells me you came to be trained by your cousin Maethel? Strange that, I wasn’t aware she had a cousin named Tauriel.” While a part of her screamed that this was a trap, she focused on staying calm and answering with a truth, even if she didn’t answer with all of it. “I’ll admit the connection is quite distant, but she accepted me anyway.” That all was true, so far so good.
“Nor was I expecting Prince Legolas to take an interest in my bow training. It seems switching to a woodland bow has allowed me to pick up the skill much more quickly than in the past.” More truth, which had some of the tension easing from her. “No doubt a superior bow style would be better for you.” And there was some of the arrogant pride she was familiar with.
“Your fighting style seems more reminiscent of Noldo styles.” Either he was fishing or he was taking interest. Either way the answer was an easy one. “Yes my lord, my teacher until I came here was a Noldo.” Thranduil gave a sharp nod. “Then we have to fix that. Easily done, now let us try your paces.” Well that was only slightly confusing. “My Lord?” “Well I can hardly make a recommendation to Maethel on how to fix that without assessing your skill now can I.” Oh, this was probably going to hurt.
*
“So I see Thranduil found Tauriel interesting enough.” Gilriant had just gotten out of a hot bath and was pulling on fresh clothes when Haldir drifted in with an amused expression. Sadly sore muscles were still going to be sore muscles even when he shifted. Elven abilities just meant it took more to get there and he recuperated faster. “Yes I really appreciated the lack of warning from you.” There was no real bite to his words, even with the increased amusement he got from his bonded. “You had it handled and it helps you to think on your feet.”
“And you find it funny.”
“And I find it funny.”
A sigh escaped Gilriant, “I really did not think through the whole a new face attracts an interest factor.” Haldir inclined his head, “No you did not.” “You have bets going on when Thranduil finds out don’t you.” The marchwarden just smiled.
*
Tauriel sat by the river, just enjoying the play of water and sun. Many of the trips lately were a larger group than just her guard. Thranduil was taking no chances on orcs being able to ambush the group. Especially with Legolas having joined them. As she was keeping that Gilriant and she were the same individual discreet for now, she couldn’t shift to her female form during those times. It had started an itch under their skin. Like everything was too tight and ill-fitting. They liked being able to vary between male and female. When they had that option closed off, it felt unnatural.
So they had been taking more opportunities to slip off and shift. Making her way around the Halls, interacting with a few that she had made friends with as Tauriel, and sometimes just heading out in the woods. Part of the reason at the moment was to avoid an inexplicably cranky Legolas. She had zero idea what exactly had set him off, but he started getting icily polite to some of the people around her.
Haldir, predictably, found it amusing and would only say Legolas was working a few things out. What that meant she had absolutely no idea. According to the marchwarden when she said as much, she would figure it out eventually. Whatever. There were some very pointed drawbacks to not letting people know she was both Gilriant and Tauriel, but still she stubbornly clung to keeping this quiet for now.
“I’ve noticed a slight change in the connection between Tauriel and when you are Gilriant.” The one downside of Legolas being aware of said connection is he easily found her. “Likely to do with different parts of myself being in the forefront.” He stood near her. “That makes sense. It’s nice to be able to come out and just relax. Little to fear in the woods close to the Halls these days.”
“Well, I’m glad you decided to relax, you’ve been a bit tense lately. Want to tell me what that’s all about?” She slowly unfolded from her seated position and got to her feet. “I haven’t been tense.” At Legolas' confusion Tauriel leveled a look at him. “Yes, you have. You’ve gotten really abrupt with others. I’m not sure what the issue is when everyone has been nothing but polite to me lately in either guise.” Now he scowled, “Well some of them have been a little too interested in you.”
“Legolas, they are not all trying to flirt with me.” While yes Gilriant had some persistent individuals that had a hard time understanding no, Tauriel did not. And this was happening regardless of what form they took. “Even if they were, I am capable of defending myself. If for some reason they start crossing lines, I don’t mind you backing me up but that hasn’t happened since the last one. And that was with Gilriant. No one has reason to pursue Tauriel strongly here,” A little strange to talk about herself in the third person, but the situation called for it. “I’m not even interested in doing any courting for at least another century or two.”
“I’m aware,” Legolas’ tone was clipped. “Then what is the problem?” When he didn’t immediately have an answer she crossed her arms over her chest making it clear she was waiting. “You are still learning. I don't want anyone to try to take advantage of you.” Both her eyebrows up and she took a step in his direction, forcing him to back up. “So you think I’m stupid? That I don’t understand when people have ulterior motives to their actions?”
“No! I didn’t say you were stupid.” She took another step forward forcing him to retreat. “You just implied it. That I’m not capable of looking out for myself.” “I know you can.” Tauriel’s eyes narrowed as the back of Legolas’ feet were at the edge of the river. “You aren’t acting like it. I can’t learn if I’m not given the space to. You need to respect that.” “I do!” “Then why are you behaving like this?” When he couldn’t answer she gave a little huff and gave in to her temper shoving at his chest. “Maybe you should cool off.”
Not expecting that, Legolas didn’t catch himself and instead went backwards into the river with a splash. He was in no real danger at the moment. Part of why she did it. A rather harmless way of showing him she had limits and boundaries. She watched as he sputtered and then slogged his way back to the bank. “I’m going to Imladris soon because Mellessin asked me to come and be there. If you are still behaving like this you can just stay here. Maybe you’ll have it figured out by the time I get back.” She stalked off into the forest. “And don’t follow me!”
Thranduil was greeted with the sight of his son walking down the hall completely soaked. There was a faint squish to his steps. “Most people don’t go swimming while fully dressed.” Legolas halted, turning to look at the King. “Oh, hello Ada” Which was not an answer. “Can you tell me why you are soaked like that?” He arched an eyebrow as the expressions on his son's face said he was thinking over his answer. “I apparently said the wrong thing. Or maybe I didn't explain myself well. I’m not sure.” His other eyebrow rose to join the first one. “Do tell.” The prince gave him a slightly alarmed look at his father’s tone.
“Ada, it was my own fault. I think I may have gotten a little overprotective.” “Of whom?” Thranduil would get an answer. “Tauriel, Maethel’s cousin.” The King’s expression relaxed a fraction. “Well, did you learn anything from it?” Legolas took his time answering, dripping on the floor. “Don’t make assumptions?” “That sounded like a question more than an answer. Perhaps you should think about it while you go dry off.” Legolas gave a short nod and turned to make more squishing steps down the hallway.
More puzzle pieces. Interesting.