LIght Fingers 8 - Introductions
As her time in the Houses of Healing draw to a close, Ivoreth meets someone new.
Ivoreth stared into the bowl of rich-smelling broth for a moment and then dipped the piece of bread in her hand into it until it had soaked up as much as it could. In her lap, Raini squirmed in anticipation - her little sister dearly loved the soup, especially when sopped up into the fresh, soft bread. Such fare had brought the life back into her face and the sparkle back into her eyes - and even now the cough that had sounded so horrible was almost completely gone.
Raini took the dripping bread from her hand and popped it into her mouth, smacking her delight. “It’s good, Ivo.”
“I know, Raini-Day Sunshine girl,” Ivoreth agreed with her sister. The broth really was very good.
“Your turn.” Raini reached out for the plate of bread and dipped another piece in the bowl before offering it up. “Open.”
“I’m not that hungry,” Ivoreth shook her head. “You take it.”
“You not hungry?” Raini asked in a worried voice. “You not feeling good?”
“I’m fine - I’m just not hungry.”
Raini popped the bread into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully, giving Ivoreth a chance to think.
This was the eighth day she had spent with her little sister in the Houses of Healing - and she knew her time here was rapidly drawing to a close. Raini was much better; her cough was light and much less often, and the good food and shelter had worked wonders. Bringing her sister here had been worth it.
But Ivoreth had no doubts as to one very possible future for both her and her sister. Lord Elladan, as much as she might wish she could trust him more than she did, had tried to have the warden of orphanages take charge of her once before. She had no doubt that he would do the same again, believing it to be the best thing for her. He knew her objections - they had once had a long talk about what had happened to her Da - but his assurances that such a thing would never happen again were less than convincing. He hadn’t seen the scars and hadn’t heard the tone of voice Da had used when speaking of those evil times.
The only thing she knew for certain was that she didn’t dare take Raini away from the Houses. The Lord had promised that Raini would never be sold like her Da had been - and the look of horror that had been on his face while talking about her Da’s stories had been enough to make her trust that he’d not allow anything like that to happen to Raini. He had grown fond of the little girl - that much was obvious in the expression of caring and openness that he showed during outings to the garden. Watching such a great one as he playing simple games of catch or I-hide-you-seek-me with a toddler had almost been enough to bring a smile to her face. Almost.
The thought of returning to the cistern alone, of returning to the chore of picking through the trash heaps of inns and residences for her food, was enough to make Ivoreth’s stomach turn over. Dreaming of the long, cold nights on the ledge amid so many others like her had all too often lately brought her up out of a deep sleep with a soft cry. And yet, Ivoreth knew that it was either return to the cistern or allow herself to be taken away to an orphanage - and no amount of reassurances from Lord Elladan would ever talk her into doing that.
For the last two days, such worries had been robbing her of her enjoyment of the food or even the ability to relax when Lord Elladan would haul her up into his lap while sitting in the garden and sing to her. She would miss that. Those moments could almost convince her that she too was cared for - that someone genuinely wanted her around. But at no point was she completely convinced.
Even the looks of the some of the healers, when they didn’t think she was watching, told the tale all too clearly. She was too tainted by the things she’d had to do to survive. She was a thief - one of those far beneath those who would normally belong here - tolerated only because someone somewhere had bent a rule or something to let her and her sister in. Even if she had been given a royal pardon, she knew what she’d done to survive - and so did everyone else.
Raini polished off the last of the fruit wedges by herself, and Ivoreth carried her to the bath area to wash off her hands and relieve herself before putting her sister to bed.
“You’re sad today, Ivo?” Riani’s dark eyes studied her big sister closely.
“I’m a little tired, Raini, that’s all,” Ivoreth answered her. It wasn’t exactly a lie; trying to keep up a happy mood in the face of such unsettling thoughts and bad dreams was very wearing. She picked up her little sister and arranged the little sleeping gown while she carried her back to the bedroom. “I’ll be better after I get a chance to nap.”
Raini looked up at Ivoreth from her pillow. “E’dan come today!”
“I know.” This would be the second day since his last visit, and he rarely went two days without at least stopping by. “You need to take a nice nap so that you’ll have lots of energy to run around the garden when he gets here.”
“You gonna nap too, Ivo?”
Ivoreth bent down and kissed her little sister on the forehead. “After a bit, Raini.” She gave her a gentle push that put her on her feet. “Close your eyes now.”
Raini trustingly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and Ivoreth sat on the edge of the bed and sat down to wait for her breathing to become soft and even. Finally the little girl rolled to her side and dropped away into slumber. Ivoreth smoothed back some of the dark blonde hair that no longer looked like mud-covered straw.
She’s well again, and Lord Elladan has promised she will never be treated like Da was. She deserves a better life than I can give her. She’s safer here.
Ivoreth looked around the room. How easy it had been to grow accustomed to living in such luxury - of having warm food brought three times a day and having a clean, warm bed to curl up in at night. How easy it had been to merely sit back and watch as the grey-gowned assistants had carried trays, changed bed linens, or cleaned bathing chambers. It had been too easy to get used to - but this wasn’t the way her life was supposed to be. She had to get away before she forgot herself completely.
Thanks to her taking the time to wander the Houses of Healing a little during some of the midday naptimes, Ivoreth had found the little room where the healers and their helpers stowed their distinctive grey gowns. It would take very little effort to sneak down the hallway, snitch a gown that looked like it would fit, and then slip away in the evening after Raini fell asleep. She didn’t dare let herself feel guilty about the idea of stealing from folks who had been so kind to her - it was once more a case of doing what she had to.
Wasn’t it?
Movement at her door brought her head up in surprise. Lord Elladan - or Lord Elrohir, Ivoreth still hadn’t figured out a way to tell the two apart yet - peered into the room, his eyes on the sleeping child. Ivoreth very carefully rose from her seat and walked over to him. “She just dropped off to sleep,” she whispered.
He nodded. “That’s just as well. I wanted a chance to talk to you alone anyway.” He turned to look over his shoulder and gestured with his nose. “Liriel will watch over her for us.” He held out his hand. “Would you like to walk with me?”
What’s he going to do? Where’s he taking me?
Ivoreth wordlessly slipped her hand into his and then walked quietly at his side. The Lord really was very tall - taller than almost any other person she knew other than his brother. She studied his face quickly, and felt her stomach tighten at the look of tension. “Where are we going?” she asked finally in a small voice, as they came to the end of the corridor and began to go down the stairs.
“There is someone I want you to meet,” he told her with a sideways glance. “I’ve spoken of you to her several times, and she insisted she meet you today.”
Ivoreth slowed her steps, and her hand in his dragged him eventually to a stop. “Who is she?” she asked warily.
It’s the warden of orphanages. I knew this was going to happen.
“Her name is Celebriel, and she is a very good friend of mine,” he replied and then turned Ivoreth to look at him. “I think the two of you will get along very well. Don’t be afraid, little one - she is one of the sweetest people I know.”
I have to leave tonight then! He’s already preparing me to go - if he isn’t going to hand me over to this woman right now…
Ivoreth forced a small smile onto her face. “All right,” she said, hoping that the shiver that was starting deep inside her wasn’t too obvious in her voice.
“You know, I don’t normally live here in your city,” he informed her in a friendly tone. “My brother and I come from far away to the north. We will be going back to our home soon.”
He’s going away, and that’s why he’s turning us over to the orphanage!
Ivoreth nodded and worked hard not to let her disappointment and fear bring tears to her eyes. That would give her away at once. She would have to pretend to like this woman, and then get away as soon as it was dark.
And she would have to take Raini with her after all. He was going to break his word to her. She just knew it.
“Here we are.” He moved behind Ivoreth and put both hands on her shoulders. “Celebriel, I would like you to meet Ivoreth. Ivoreth, this is one of my oldest and dearest friends, Celebriel.”
“Hello, Ivoreth. Elladan has told me so much about you.”
Ivoreth couldn’t help staring. The woman was tall, beautiful and very slender, and moved with the same kind of grace that Lord Elladan did. Her gown was of a light and flowing material that moved with every breath of air and twitch of muscle, and her hair was a glowing fall of silver-blonde past her waist that was pulled back at the temples with shining combs. Her eyes were a brilliant blue-green, and Ivoreth could feel herself drawn to the calm of the woman’s spirit in her gaze. Ivoreth’s own eyes widened in shock, however, when she saw that the beautiful woman’s ears ended in delicate points, and she turned to stare up at the Lord in frantic question. It was at that moment that she finally saw his ears.
“Yes,” he replied with an amused look on his face, “We are edhil - Elves.”
Ivoreth turned back to the beautiful woman and gave what she hoped was a decent curtsey. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought to actually meet one of the Fair Folk of the bedtime stories. She sidled closer to her escort’s leg, choosing to cling to the familiar and think about the rest of it later.
“Come here,” Celebriel put out a delicate, long-fingered hand to her. “Let me look at you.”
Ivoreth shot another frightened, questioning look at the Lord, who merely smiled and nodded. “It’s all right, Ivoreth. She won’t harm you.”
Celebriel took charge of Ivoreth’s hand and pulled her forward, giving her escort a sharp look of concern before turning her entire attention back to the girl. “Have they been taking good care of you here, nethben?”
What is a “nethben”?
Ivoreth nodded wordlessly. The beautiful woman ran a gentle hand up her arm and then cupped her cheek. “You’re still much too thin, poor sweetling. And frightened too, right?”
How does she know?
It took work not to flinch; and the moment the hand had dropped away, Ivoreth had backed up against the grand Lord again. When his hands once more landed on her shoulders, the relief was staggering.
“This child is terrified, Elladan. Does she have the slightest idea what you’re planning?” Celebriel asked Lord Elladan sharply. “Have you any idea how much of a change you’re suggesting she go through here - or whether she’s even able to contemplate it, much less handle it? What have you told her?”
“You came earlier than I had anticipated,” he answered, his hands rubbing across Ivoreth’s shoulders in a movement that, under other circumstances, would have been soothing. “So no, I haven’t had a chance to prepare her yet. I was going to talk to her about it this afternoon - and give her the evening to think about it before introducing you. I told you I needed time to put things in motion - but you insisted…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” Celebriel conceded. “I never thought…” She dropped to her knees in front of Ivoreth. “I didn’t mean to frighten you so, nethben. I have just been so excited to meet you. Forgive me?”
Forgive her? For what? For wanting to take me away to an orphanage?
Ivoreth blinked once and then turned her face into Lord Elladan’s side and closed her eyes.
“What about the other little one?” Celebriel was asking now. “Is she as fragile as Ivoreth?”
“Not at all,” Lord Elladan replied, a hand falling to Ivoreth’s shoulder again and holding her close to him. “But then, she’s still too young to really have been affected emotionally by everything she’s been through. Ivoreth did a very good job protecting her from that until the very end, when things just moved past her ability to cope.”
He thought I did a good job? But Evien died - and Daren was taken! I failed…
“I’ll leave you to talk to Ivoreth, then - and I’m sorry I disrupted the process.” Ivoreth heard the soft whisper of the fine gown as the elleth rose to her full height once more. “I’m really glad to meet you, and I’ll be back to see you again, Ivoreth. We have a lot to talk about, once Elladan has a chance to tell you what’s going to happen.”
Ivoreth felt a soft touch at the top of her head, and then the sound of very light footsteps walking away. Lord Elladan immediately dropped to one knee and turned her to face him. “Look at me, Ivoreth,” he demanded gently.
Slowly she raised her eyes to look at him, ready to dismiss anything he said as a lie to get her to do as he wanted. Why, oh why had she let herself believe that he cared about Raini?
“You know that Raini’s gotten better - and she’s well enough now that she doesn’t need to be here in the Houses - right?”
Ivoreth nodded. That was nothing more or less than what she’d already figured out on her own. No doubt the healers were pushing to get the two of them removed as well.
We don’t belong here - we never have.
“And you know that there’s no way that I’d let you take her back to wherever it was you had her before - that you both need good food and shelter, and that when I promised you I’d make sure she was taken care of, it meant I wouldn’t let her go back to the hard life you had before.” His grey-blue gaze bore into her.
She nodded again. Yes, she could see him understand the promise he’d given her in that way.
“Then you must know that I’ve been thinking about the best way to make certain that you and Raini are taken care of properly.”
A tear began to roll down Ivoreth’s cheek - one she dashed away quickly with an angry, visibly shaking hand.
Here it comes.
“What the…” Lord Elladan’s face paled at the sight of that tear. “No, no… Merciful Elbereth - you didn’t think…” His arms suddenly swept out and gathered Ivoreth close to him and held her tightly. “None of this has to do with any orphanages, Ivoreth. I made you a promise - I fully intend to keep it.”
What?!
Sindarin Vocabulary
edhil - Elves (sing. edhel)
nethben - little one
Ivoreth stared into the bowl of rich-smelling broth for a moment and then dipped the piece of bread in her hand into it until it had soaked up as much as it could. In her lap, Raini squirmed in anticipation - her little sister dearly loved the soup, especially when sopped up into the fresh, soft bread. Such fare had brought the life back into her face and the sparkle back into her eyes - and even now the cough that had sounded so horrible was almost completely gone.
Raini took the dripping bread from her hand and popped it into her mouth, smacking her delight. “It’s good, Ivo.”
“I know, Raini-Day Sunshine girl,” Ivoreth agreed with her sister. The broth really was very good.
“Your turn.” Raini reached out for the plate of bread and dipped another piece in the bowl before offering it up. “Open.”
“I’m not that hungry,” Ivoreth shook her head. “You take it.”
“You not hungry?” Raini asked in a worried voice. “You not feeling good?”
“I’m fine - I’m just not hungry.”
Raini popped the bread into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully, giving Ivoreth a chance to think.
This was the eighth day she had spent with her little sister in the Houses of Healing - and she knew her time here was rapidly drawing to a close. Raini was much better; her cough was light and much less often, and the good food and shelter had worked wonders. Bringing her sister here had been worth it.
But Ivoreth had no doubts as to one very possible future for both her and her sister. Lord Elladan, as much as she might wish she could trust him more than she did, had tried to have the warden of orphanages take charge of her once before. She had no doubt that he would do the same again, believing it to be the best thing for her. He knew her objections - they had once had a long talk about what had happened to her Da - but his assurances that such a thing would never happen again were less than convincing. He hadn’t seen the scars and hadn’t heard the tone of voice Da had used when speaking of those evil times.
The only thing she knew for certain was that she didn’t dare take Raini away from the Houses. The Lord had promised that Raini would never be sold like her Da had been - and the look of horror that had been on his face while talking about her Da’s stories had been enough to make her trust that he’d not allow anything like that to happen to Raini. He had grown fond of the little girl - that much was obvious in the expression of caring and openness that he showed during outings to the garden. Watching such a great one as he playing simple games of catch or I-hide-you-seek-me with a toddler had almost been enough to bring a smile to her face. Almost.
The thought of returning to the cistern alone, of returning to the chore of picking through the trash heaps of inns and residences for her food, was enough to make Ivoreth’s stomach turn over. Dreaming of the long, cold nights on the ledge amid so many others like her had all too often lately brought her up out of a deep sleep with a soft cry. And yet, Ivoreth knew that it was either return to the cistern or allow herself to be taken away to an orphanage - and no amount of reassurances from Lord Elladan would ever talk her into doing that.
For the last two days, such worries had been robbing her of her enjoyment of the food or even the ability to relax when Lord Elladan would haul her up into his lap while sitting in the garden and sing to her. She would miss that. Those moments could almost convince her that she too was cared for - that someone genuinely wanted her around. But at no point was she completely convinced.
Even the looks of the some of the healers, when they didn’t think she was watching, told the tale all too clearly. She was too tainted by the things she’d had to do to survive. She was a thief - one of those far beneath those who would normally belong here - tolerated only because someone somewhere had bent a rule or something to let her and her sister in. Even if she had been given a royal pardon, she knew what she’d done to survive - and so did everyone else.
Raini polished off the last of the fruit wedges by herself, and Ivoreth carried her to the bath area to wash off her hands and relieve herself before putting her sister to bed.
“You’re sad today, Ivo?” Riani’s dark eyes studied her big sister closely.
“I’m a little tired, Raini, that’s all,” Ivoreth answered her. It wasn’t exactly a lie; trying to keep up a happy mood in the face of such unsettling thoughts and bad dreams was very wearing. She picked up her little sister and arranged the little sleeping gown while she carried her back to the bedroom. “I’ll be better after I get a chance to nap.”
Raini looked up at Ivoreth from her pillow. “E’dan come today!”
“I know.” This would be the second day since his last visit, and he rarely went two days without at least stopping by. “You need to take a nice nap so that you’ll have lots of energy to run around the garden when he gets here.”
“You gonna nap too, Ivo?”
Ivoreth bent down and kissed her little sister on the forehead. “After a bit, Raini.” She gave her a gentle push that put her on her feet. “Close your eyes now.”
Raini trustingly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and Ivoreth sat on the edge of the bed and sat down to wait for her breathing to become soft and even. Finally the little girl rolled to her side and dropped away into slumber. Ivoreth smoothed back some of the dark blonde hair that no longer looked like mud-covered straw.
She’s well again, and Lord Elladan has promised she will never be treated like Da was. She deserves a better life than I can give her. She’s safer here.
Ivoreth looked around the room. How easy it had been to grow accustomed to living in such luxury - of having warm food brought three times a day and having a clean, warm bed to curl up in at night. How easy it had been to merely sit back and watch as the grey-gowned assistants had carried trays, changed bed linens, or cleaned bathing chambers. It had been too easy to get used to - but this wasn’t the way her life was supposed to be. She had to get away before she forgot herself completely.
Thanks to her taking the time to wander the Houses of Healing a little during some of the midday naptimes, Ivoreth had found the little room where the healers and their helpers stowed their distinctive grey gowns. It would take very little effort to sneak down the hallway, snitch a gown that looked like it would fit, and then slip away in the evening after Raini fell asleep. She didn’t dare let herself feel guilty about the idea of stealing from folks who had been so kind to her - it was once more a case of doing what she had to.
Wasn’t it?
Movement at her door brought her head up in surprise. Lord Elladan - or Lord Elrohir, Ivoreth still hadn’t figured out a way to tell the two apart yet - peered into the room, his eyes on the sleeping child. Ivoreth very carefully rose from her seat and walked over to him. “She just dropped off to sleep,” she whispered.
He nodded. “That’s just as well. I wanted a chance to talk to you alone anyway.” He turned to look over his shoulder and gestured with his nose. “Liriel will watch over her for us.” He held out his hand. “Would you like to walk with me?”
What’s he going to do? Where’s he taking me?
Ivoreth wordlessly slipped her hand into his and then walked quietly at his side. The Lord really was very tall - taller than almost any other person she knew other than his brother. She studied his face quickly, and felt her stomach tighten at the look of tension. “Where are we going?” she asked finally in a small voice, as they came to the end of the corridor and began to go down the stairs.
“There is someone I want you to meet,” he told her with a sideways glance. “I’ve spoken of you to her several times, and she insisted she meet you today.”
Ivoreth slowed her steps, and her hand in his dragged him eventually to a stop. “Who is she?” she asked warily.
It’s the warden of orphanages. I knew this was going to happen.
“Her name is Celebriel, and she is a very good friend of mine,” he replied and then turned Ivoreth to look at him. “I think the two of you will get along very well. Don’t be afraid, little one - she is one of the sweetest people I know.”
I have to leave tonight then! He’s already preparing me to go - if he isn’t going to hand me over to this woman right now…
Ivoreth forced a small smile onto her face. “All right,” she said, hoping that the shiver that was starting deep inside her wasn’t too obvious in her voice.
“You know, I don’t normally live here in your city,” he informed her in a friendly tone. “My brother and I come from far away to the north. We will be going back to our home soon.”
He’s going away, and that’s why he’s turning us over to the orphanage!
Ivoreth nodded and worked hard not to let her disappointment and fear bring tears to her eyes. That would give her away at once. She would have to pretend to like this woman, and then get away as soon as it was dark.
And she would have to take Raini with her after all. He was going to break his word to her. She just knew it.
“Here we are.” He moved behind Ivoreth and put both hands on her shoulders. “Celebriel, I would like you to meet Ivoreth. Ivoreth, this is one of my oldest and dearest friends, Celebriel.”
“Hello, Ivoreth. Elladan has told me so much about you.”
Ivoreth couldn’t help staring. The woman was tall, beautiful and very slender, and moved with the same kind of grace that Lord Elladan did. Her gown was of a light and flowing material that moved with every breath of air and twitch of muscle, and her hair was a glowing fall of silver-blonde past her waist that was pulled back at the temples with shining combs. Her eyes were a brilliant blue-green, and Ivoreth could feel herself drawn to the calm of the woman’s spirit in her gaze. Ivoreth’s own eyes widened in shock, however, when she saw that the beautiful woman’s ears ended in delicate points, and she turned to stare up at the Lord in frantic question. It was at that moment that she finally saw his ears.
“Yes,” he replied with an amused look on his face, “We are edhil - Elves.”
Ivoreth turned back to the beautiful woman and gave what she hoped was a decent curtsey. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought to actually meet one of the Fair Folk of the bedtime stories. She sidled closer to her escort’s leg, choosing to cling to the familiar and think about the rest of it later.
“Come here,” Celebriel put out a delicate, long-fingered hand to her. “Let me look at you.”
Ivoreth shot another frightened, questioning look at the Lord, who merely smiled and nodded. “It’s all right, Ivoreth. She won’t harm you.”
Celebriel took charge of Ivoreth’s hand and pulled her forward, giving her escort a sharp look of concern before turning her entire attention back to the girl. “Have they been taking good care of you here, nethben?”
What is a “nethben”?
Ivoreth nodded wordlessly. The beautiful woman ran a gentle hand up her arm and then cupped her cheek. “You’re still much too thin, poor sweetling. And frightened too, right?”
How does she know?
It took work not to flinch; and the moment the hand had dropped away, Ivoreth had backed up against the grand Lord again. When his hands once more landed on her shoulders, the relief was staggering.
“This child is terrified, Elladan. Does she have the slightest idea what you’re planning?” Celebriel asked Lord Elladan sharply. “Have you any idea how much of a change you’re suggesting she go through here - or whether she’s even able to contemplate it, much less handle it? What have you told her?”
“You came earlier than I had anticipated,” he answered, his hands rubbing across Ivoreth’s shoulders in a movement that, under other circumstances, would have been soothing. “So no, I haven’t had a chance to prepare her yet. I was going to talk to her about it this afternoon - and give her the evening to think about it before introducing you. I told you I needed time to put things in motion - but you insisted…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” Celebriel conceded. “I never thought…” She dropped to her knees in front of Ivoreth. “I didn’t mean to frighten you so, nethben. I have just been so excited to meet you. Forgive me?”
Forgive her? For what? For wanting to take me away to an orphanage?
Ivoreth blinked once and then turned her face into Lord Elladan’s side and closed her eyes.
“What about the other little one?” Celebriel was asking now. “Is she as fragile as Ivoreth?”
“Not at all,” Lord Elladan replied, a hand falling to Ivoreth’s shoulder again and holding her close to him. “But then, she’s still too young to really have been affected emotionally by everything she’s been through. Ivoreth did a very good job protecting her from that until the very end, when things just moved past her ability to cope.”
He thought I did a good job? But Evien died - and Daren was taken! I failed…
“I’ll leave you to talk to Ivoreth, then - and I’m sorry I disrupted the process.” Ivoreth heard the soft whisper of the fine gown as the elleth rose to her full height once more. “I’m really glad to meet you, and I’ll be back to see you again, Ivoreth. We have a lot to talk about, once Elladan has a chance to tell you what’s going to happen.”
Ivoreth felt a soft touch at the top of her head, and then the sound of very light footsteps walking away. Lord Elladan immediately dropped to one knee and turned her to face him. “Look at me, Ivoreth,” he demanded gently.
Slowly she raised her eyes to look at him, ready to dismiss anything he said as a lie to get her to do as he wanted. Why, oh why had she let herself believe that he cared about Raini?
“You know that Raini’s gotten better - and she’s well enough now that she doesn’t need to be here in the Houses - right?”
Ivoreth nodded. That was nothing more or less than what she’d already figured out on her own. No doubt the healers were pushing to get the two of them removed as well.
We don’t belong here - we never have.
“And you know that there’s no way that I’d let you take her back to wherever it was you had her before - that you both need good food and shelter, and that when I promised you I’d make sure she was taken care of, it meant I wouldn’t let her go back to the hard life you had before.” His grey-blue gaze bore into her.
She nodded again. Yes, she could see him understand the promise he’d given her in that way.
“Then you must know that I’ve been thinking about the best way to make certain that you and Raini are taken care of properly.”
A tear began to roll down Ivoreth’s cheek - one she dashed away quickly with an angry, visibly shaking hand.
Here it comes.
“What the…” Lord Elladan’s face paled at the sight of that tear. “No, no… Merciful Elbereth - you didn’t think…” His arms suddenly swept out and gathered Ivoreth close to him and held her tightly. “None of this has to do with any orphanages, Ivoreth. I made you a promise - I fully intend to keep it.”
What?!
Sindarin Vocabulary
edhil - Elves (sing. edhel)
nethben - little one