Winter Dreams

Beta: Half Elf Lost

6: a sticky mess

December 6th

Celebrían walked from child to child, instructing as she went, trying in vain to keep the sticky, grubby hands away from her white dress. She did not understand why Rodwen had chosen to have three children so close in years; it was unusual in the Elven ways, but Galadriel wished for her handmaiden to have time in the afternoon for herself. She had wanted to visit with the Half-Elf from Imladris, not be here watching Rodwen's boys. She remembered Elrond from her short visits to Lindon many years ago, and she had hoped to rekindle their friendship.

Instead, she-- "Haldir, no!" she cried, prying Haldir's honey-glazed hands from her skirt. "Oh, Haldir," the Elf maiden huffed, forcing Haldir to sit down at the small table. "We do not wipe our hands on our elders' clothing, Haldir. Now, finish your pinecone so we can hang them up for the birds."

She had thought the task a simple one. Celebrían had brought honey, pinecones and seeds, intending to create winter feeders for birds nesting in the Golden Wood. She had not planned on the mess the boys could create with just some honey and seeds!

"Orophin, no!" 'No' was becoming a word Celebrían loathed. She tried to pull Orophin's gooey hand from Rúmil's silvery locks, but the long strands were stuck to the amber syrup. Rúmil screamed as she yanked the small hand from his head, and Haldir jumped up to cradle his crying brother.

"You are mean!" Orophin yelled up at her, smearing more honey and seeds onto her lacey skirts.

With one child crying, another pouring honey over the toe of her silk shoe, and the eldest cuddling the sobbing mess of an Elfling, glaring at her, Celebrían made an important decision.

She never wanted to have children.