Wishes-verse. After http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s13773 and http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s13oai

After returning west, Kélan has a big secret, huge worries, and a stone-sister wanting to help.

‏@Valandhir @SilmarilNaro @Boromir_Aesir
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Kélan

Kélan had buried his face in his hands, trying to think, to somehow sort his own whirling mind. His hands were shaking and he could feel the tears leaking hotly against them, he tried not to cry, but with little enough success. Something inside his heart wondered how he had gotten here. He had been so happy only some months ago in the east. He and Boromir had made plans for a life after the campaigns, hoping for a life together.

During the march back, the long long trek that led them again across the plains, past the Sea of Rhûn and further west, Kélan had sometimes struggled with moments of weakness. He hidden them well, at first thinking it was the exhaustion of the campaign catching up with him, only when he had almost collapsed during the Anduin crossing he had realized the truth - he was with child. It should not be possible, not after all that had happened, not after his stone-form being abused and broken by the Orcs... but he could not deny the truth of what was happening with him. It scared him deeply. How should he explain that to anyone not a dwarrow? The Dwarrow ability to carry life was not one well known outside their own race, and especially Gondor barely tolerated male relationships and had it's huge store of stories and legends about evil sorcerers using their bodies to bring dark things into the world. That had been one reason for him to keep his silence, but also the fear - he doubted that he could carry the child to term, there had been things... injuries... that had seen to it that it should be all but impossible. And first giving Boromir the worry and then the disappointment, was something he could not face. It was too great a reminder on how damaged Kélan truly was.

When the armies had camped outside Annúminas and begun to disperse, Kélan had found he was lucky to draw little attention. Boromir had been called to court, Kélan was sure that King Elessar was genuinely fond of his best warrior, and would not make this short. Rumours had been abound about future tasks for Boromir. One had been the title of a Warden of the North - responsible for the harsh, wild lands that stretched between Carn Dûm and Rhudaur, other titles had been whispered too. Prince of Ithilien, though many gossipers agreed, that the King would want to keep Boromir in the north.

Kélan had kept to his small hideout in a hut outside one of the settlements, when his pregnancy entered the final stage. His body refused to show outward signs, turning on itself, while trying to sustain the small life. Kélan did not fight it, it was his only chance to see the child alive into this world. Dwalin had departed to find a dwarrow healer who could perform the section, when the time came. The natural stone-birth was out of the question for Kélan.

It had been during that time when the visitors started, several of them were badly veiled courtiers who tried to probe him with questions about Boromir. He tried to keep his head down and remain polite, without giving things away until the Lady of Evendim had arrived. "I know the men have made a mess of this, and I thought we might talk sensibly, it would spare both sides pain, don't you think?" she had said, sitting down on the stool, ignoring her surroundings entirely. "I will not judge your association with Lord Boromir the slightest, you must believe that much, Kélan. As a wife, I would prefer my husband had similar good taste, it would have spared me the worry about him and all the wenches in his path." She had smiled at that, a cool, predatory smile. "But now times change and Lord Boromir stands high in the King's favor. You cannot know, that Lord Boromir long ago set his heart on young Aedil of the Seas. There was little hope for anything back then, for Aedil is one of the very very few living relations of the King. Such a marriage was something few could hope for. But now... the King himself said, he'd be proud to call Boromir brother, and thus Boromir and Aedil can finally realize their love. I know you care a lot for Boromir, and if you do, you will allow him to enter a honorable relationship with the one he loves, without dragging his name through the mud..."

Kélan had tried to doubt, he knew Boromir cared for him, but she had been very clear and she had not been the last. Eventually all his worrying had let to the child becoming disassociated from his stone form. With Dwalin still gone, it had been ironically Anarion who had been with him during those hours, though the true reason for him surviving the whole ordeal had another name - Elenarien. His little stone-sister had enveloped them with her light and somehow made it possible for them to survive.

A small wail brought Kélan back to the world, the little one had become restless. Tears still streaked down Kélan's face, when he cradled the child in his arms. "What are we to do now, Asár?" he said softly.


Elennárë

Elennárë sits watching as Kélan holds his newborn child, her cat friend curled around her as if to ward off the sadness she is feeling in sympathy. The cat had, of it's own choice, decided to follow them all the way from Rhûn, finding perches on baggage wagons or on the back of Kélan or Boromir's horses. He had decided, after taking a fondness to Elennárë, that he wanted to stay with the "warm stone" and was not put off by the long journey. He was purring now, though Elennárë knew that he was doing so more as attempt to soothe her and Kélan than an expression of his own comfort.

"Kélan?" She reaches out softly to touch his mind. She does not know what to say to help him right now, but she coils her mind-touch gently into Kélan's, extending a light, careful touch to the baby, as careful as she once was with Atarinkë's boy.


Kélan

Kélan leans into the mental embrace, her warm light a gentle reminder that he is not alone. Though he can barely hold back the tears, the though of losing Boromir cuts into his heart worse than any torment Azog ever devised for him. "I do not know what to do, sister..." he says softly. "Maybe they are right... there is nothing I have to offer and Boromir... if he truly loved someone else long ago, how..." his voice chokes, because he does not want to give Boromir up, he does not want to let him go, even though he knows there is little choice.


Elennárë

Elennárë thinks about what she heard the Lady of Evendim say, trying to equate it with the Boromir she knew. "I... am willing to accept Boromir had other loves before we met him. Before that battle he was almost lost in, he was so closed off, so sure he could not love, even when I - when *both* of us could see he cared about you." She pauses for a moment as Oromë - as she has taken to calling the cat - turns over. "But in the time since then? Whatever shield he put up against loving again, he let it down and let you in. It would seem you were the first he did that for in a long time."


Kélan

Kíli squats down beside the cat and the stone, simply wanting their closeness. "I know... and my heart does not want to doubt what Boromir and I shared." His heart hurts at the thought, and yet he also know he agreed to accept whatever Boromir was willing to give. "And at the same time, I cannot fail to see their point. Past love or not... I am hardly someone acceptable for someone of Boromir's rank." He legs give in, and he kneels down on the floor, to prevent a collapse. He is not very strong yet, his body drained and tired. Cradling Asár tight, he wonders how he will be able to go on, the tears come again, this time stronger than before.


Elennárë

Watching Kélan with some concern, Elennárë gently wriggles out of Oromë's curled form. "You should lay back down Kélan. Rest so you can rebuild your strength." She advises. "I do not doubt we will have to face more problems in the coming days, especially if everyone and their ambitious daughter are trying to push us away. I do want to let them do that to us though. Boromir is our family and I have lost too much family in my life to give up any of what I have now."

Rolling over to bump gently against Kélan's knees, she reiterates her first concern. "You, in bed! I can easily spend time inside your dreams while your body rests."


Kélan

She is right and inside their mind Kélan does embrace her, while he pushes himself to his feet and lies down again on the blankets, cuddling little Asár beside him. He will have to check the their stores later, to make sure there is enough food, and especially goat's milk for the little one. Half closing his eyes he allows himself to enter the dreamspace, to see his little sister. "I wish I knew what to do... sometimes I wonder if I should go back to Thorin's Dale. The house... it still might be there. I know where we buried the keys before leaving. If I can get us through the next months, I surely can find work..."


Elennárë

Here in dreams Elennárë wears the form of her Other Self, Kizár, and can wrap her arms around Kélan in a reassuring hug, absently combing fingers through his hair. "We could do that, maybe even get some contact with the Elves across the mountains from te Vale. I am somewhat curious about them since I heard the rumours about there being a number of remaining Ñoldor there." She lets her thoughts wander a little. "I still do not think Boromir would simply give up on you... Even if we do go, I would leave some sign for him... give him the choice to come with us..."


Kélan

Kélan holds onto her, inside their dream they can embrace. She has been a wonderful sister and friend ever since Kizár helped them find each other. "I... even if I write a letter..." he sighs. "whatever I write could be the wrong thing. Do I write of Asár, he might feel obliged to come after us, do I keep the secret I do just as wrong." He looks at his sister... seeking the elves on the other side of the mountains, might be a good idea, he thinks. She deserves to find her people again. "I do not want to lose Boromir, the very thought is... is worse than anything. And yet, what right do I have to cling to him?"


Elennárë

"Why can we not want to stay with him?" Elennárë murmurs, quietly wondering if she could find a way to write a message herself. Maybe she could shape her fire so as to sear words onto some paper? She is unsure about that. She is even less sure she can move objects outside her own form, at least nothing much more substantial than shifting air around.

"I... feel though that he will not let you go, if given the chance to decide. Maybe it is that I have faith in how much he loves you, and doubts of the validity of anyone's claim his heart belongs elsewhere."


Kélan

Kélan reaches for her hands, squeezing them. "Maybe you are right," he says after a while. "maybe... I should not be a coward, and wait until he has decided. I wish I could just go to him... but that is not a good idea, with him still being in the city." He embraces Elenarien's dream form. "What would I do without you, stone-sister?"


Elennárë

"Worry more, not be able to think straight..." She does not want to add that he might have lost Boromir on that battlefield in the east. "We could send him a message to come out here as soon as possible. Just as I believe he is unlikely to give you up, I also believe that if you asked him to come, he would. Then we can let him know, about Asár, about those who seem to think his heart is elsewhere, and find out what he truly thinks about such things." Elennárë squeezes his hands back in assurance.

Something tickles at the back of her mind and she mentally turns towards it, a small soft light, currently only vaguely shaped, appears in the dreamscape. She knows it is Asár, too young yet to have a solid self-image. She draws him in so he is cradled between her and Kélan, where he feels comforted.


Kélan

Kélan smiles when he feels how naturally Asár draws to his aunt, cradling between them. "You have a point," he admits, he feels strange about it, though. Asking Boromir to come here... it feels wrong, it is not how their relationship has been so far and yet Kélan can feel that Elenarien is right. "I will do that. I will write a letter and ask him for a chance to meet, be it here or elsewhere. Then we can talk." His heart is more than a little afraid of said talk, but it is the best way.


Elennárë

Elennárë can sense the edges of that worry and rubs Kélan's arm. "Whatever happens, I will be there with you, to support you. You are my chosen brother, I will always stand by you, for all your years in this life."


Kélan

Kélan hugs her tight. "I do not know what I'd do without you, little sister." he says before a wriggling between them, draws his attention. Little Asár's spark wriggling between them impatiently. "someone is hungry I think." Kélan says, opening his eyes, to get up and retrieve some sustenance for his son. While doing so he gathers up Elenarien and Oromë, putting them both closer to Asár on the bed.


Elennárë

Elennárë settles next to Asár, assuring him that milk is coming, while Oromë curls around them. Elennárë has told the cat, as well as she may, the concept of Asár being a newborn. In some ways communicating with the cat reminds her of her early memories of her sisters, and trading impressions of the world in simple concepts and images. Asár currently is not much different, though unlike Oromë, who is an adult cat, Asár has much to learn and will eventually come to understand complex ideas.

For now though Elennárë is careful to give him simple images to keep him momentarily distracted while Kélan fetches some milk.


Kélan

Kélan returns, sitting down on the side of the bed, picking up Asár, who takes quite well to the feeding. The wide open eyes of the child are of a bright green colour and strongly remind Kélan of another pair of eyes. When Asár is finally sated and sleepy, he lays him down beside Elenarien and Oromë, who seems very protective of both, the stone and the child. "May I ask you to look after him, for a bit, sister?" he asks, before rising again, to search his pack for something to write on. Sitting down he tries to find the right words, in the end coming to the simple request, whether it would be possible to meet. Knowing Elenarien the best guard the small one could have, Kélan pulls it together to leave their hut to find someone to carry the message to the city.


Elennárë

The request to care for Asár is one that almost does not need to be asked, let alone answered. Elennárë would protect him any way she may, even to turning her fire on anyone who would harm the baby. She answers in agreement and lets her mental presence soothe Asár into sleep, and watches quietly as Kélan writes out his message and goes to find a carrier for it. Oromë's purring is the only sound while Kélan is out, besides Asár's soft breath.


Kélan

Kélan returns after dark, walking slowly. He is tired, more tired than before, but the message is on it's long way to Annúminas, and he has managed to pick up fresh milk and a little food, along with something for Oromë. After stowing it away, he lies down, wrapping his arms around the child and the small stone that is his sister, cuddling both of them close. "Thank you, Elenarien."


Elennárë

"You're welcome Kélan, always." Elennárë responds softly. "I will always try to do everything I can for you, for Asár... for Boromir too." Even when that means persuading Kélan to give Boromir a chance to decide what he wants, not that she truly believes Boromir will turn his back on Kélan, or his newborn son.


Kélan

Kélan reaches out to her inside their dream-space to embrace her there too. "And we'll find your people again... I remember stories of an island before the coast were ancient elves lived, I heard when I was small. We once sold them an artifact we had fished from the Ice bay... paid enough to see is through a winter. Maybe they will know where to find your family." He replies sleepily. He wished he could do more for his little sister, but this is something he can try to do... and he wonders what Boromir will think of their request to see him.


Elennárë

"I do not know how likely it will be any are left... I can only hope my Other Self is right and Maitimo lives in this world as well." She holds Kélan tight, starting to hum softly, encouraging him to let himself slip into deep sleep. She will keep nightmares at bay, until Boromir comes.


Kélan

"If he truly is your brother, he will be out there somewhere, and we'll find him." Kélan whispers, snuggling into her mental embrace, feeling Asár's spark settle between them. Maybe if he dreams long enough, he'll dream of Boromir being with them again.


Elennárë

"I hope so." Elennárë murmurs softly, knowing Kélan is falling asleep already. "Family is worth fighting for." She settles in to guard both Kélan and Asár's dreams for the night.

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Boromir

The return west had been reasonably orderly in Boromir's opinion, though much of the journey was clouded by the fact that Kélan was ill for much of it. Kélan tried to assure him not to be concerned, but as much as he tried to hide it, Boromir the knew the illness had lingered right along the path home and still clung to Kélan even now.

Or at least the last time Boromir had chance to spend time with Kélan he had sensed the illness remained. Between the discussions with Aragorn over land available that he may claim, possible titles he may be awarded with, and general social engagements he could not wriggle his way out of, his visits to the rough village where Kélan had found a quiet residence had been becoming rarer and rarer, leaving him feeling more and more ansty and desperate to escape the hustle of the capital.

It was not only the lack of time to spend with Kélan that aggravated him, though that was by far the greatest problem, but that all sorts of lords and courtiers tried to hold him up at all hours, trying to wheedle some pact out of him, deals and alliances. Boromir had never considered himself the politician of his family, preferring the more solid lines of authority the military set out, but he had to admit to himself he was aware of the sort of dealings that happened in court life and was thankful for the lessons in his younger years his father had schooled him in how people played for power.

Perhaps the most upsetting of these attempts to get on side with him were the ones pushing sisters, daughters, even some young men at him, trying to grab hold of an alliance via romance. He was forced to be even more careful of how he spoke and acted towards such advances, not giving any sign of acceptance, yet trying not to also cause insult either.

The message in Kélan's hand - it seemed a little shaky even then - was good excuse to get him out of the city, with Aragorn's quiet approval, and down to the satellite villages that had sprung up in Annúminas' vicinity, to find Kélan and assure himself his health has not taken any drastic down-turns. No messages had come so far from Anarion to such an effect and he trusted his friend to let him know, knowing Anarion was well aware of his relationship with Kélan.

This late at night, Boromir has to be careful of the noise he makes as he dismounts from his horse. The semi-hidden hut, sheltered under a rocky outcrop at the edge of the village has a little space near that a couple of horse may graze, and Boromir spots Kélan's pony there as he finishes unsaddling it. Kélan at least seems to still be staying here, which soothes Boromir's worries a good deal.

He steps into the hut, looking around in the low light inside, spotting first the stubborn little cat who came back from Rhûn with them. Oromë (Kélan had said the cat was a hunter of rats and mice, so deserved a proud hunter name) was once again curled around Kélan's stone - the stone that always inspired strange feelings in Boromir, not of fear, but that if it were not there, their lives would be far worse.

Kélan is sitting in a chair before the fire, his back to Boromir, singing a soft song.


Kélan

"...under these skies the ravens fly,
and in the east the morning sky,
beckons the day a King shall die,
and vengeance becomes war.

And who will cry today?
And who will be sayin' goodbye today?
For he must die today,
his path leads to the flame..."

Asár usually loved that song, like most mournful dwarven ballads, but today there was little reasoning with him. Even Elenarien's singing was not met with grace by the babe, which announced it's unhappiness with the world through a pitched wail. Kélan sighed. "I'll see if he is still hungry," he said to Elenarien and Oromë. "He kept little enough food today as is."

He rose slowly, to retrieve the milk from the cellar, when he movement alerted him that someone had entered the hut without him noticing. Reflexively Kélan's arms tightened around the child, before he realized who stood there. His heart suddenly, and painfully leaped against his ribs. "Boromir."


Boromir

Boromir stands transfixed, confused at the sight of the infant Kélan has, held protectively in his arms. For a moment he cannot think, cannot move, but he soon gains control over himself, slowly approaching, trying not to offer any threat. How Kélan came to have a baby with him, a newborn at that, he does not know. What he can read in Kélan's stance is protectiveness, worry - fear even.

"Kélan...?" All he can do is ask for what Kélan can tell him of the child.


Kélan

There is so much caution in Boromir's voice, the protective gentleness, that always let Kélan know that he was safe with his warrior. He wants to embrace Boromir, to hold him, to simply feel those arms around him, but for the moment he is rooted where he stands. "Boromir..." he begins speaking but the soft wail of the child interrupts his words. "Shh... little Asár." he says softly, trying to calm the child, before looking up at Boromir. "Let me retrieve some milk for him, before we talk. He's not been well for most of the day."

When he steps closer to Boromir, Asár stills a little, like the presence of Boromir is soothing him.


Boromir

Boromir makes no move to stop Kélan as he transfers Asár into his arms, guiding him on how to hold the infant. Boromir sits himself down by the fire, slowly and carefully so as not to jostle too much. Asár does not seem to fuss much, even if he may be hungry, seeming more intent on peering up at Boromir with bright greenish eyes. There is something to this child that keeps Boromir fixated, ignorant of however long it takes for Kélan to fetch some milk.


Kélan

Returning to the fire Kélan's heart flutters a little when he sees Boromir sitting there, holding their son, seemingly content. Asár has gone quiet, just looking at his father. Sitting down beside them, Kélan gently touches Boromir's hand that is still holding the infant. "Let's see if he is inclined to take some food," he says.


Boromir

Boromir looks up at Kélan's words, nodding, and moves to follow any of Kélan's guidance, since he seems to know what to do better than Boromir does. Contrary to taking the baby back, Kélan directs him in how to feed Asár himself, and it would seem that whatever objection he had before Boromir arrived is somehow soothed, as he takes the milk without too much trouble.

It is only as Asár seems to be coming to the end of his meal that Boromir can bring himself to begin to ask. "How...? Where did you-" There is no accusation in his fumbled words, only an honest confusion as to how Kélan came to have this child in his keeping.


Kélan

Kélan takes a slow breath, trying to calm himself. "I know this is confusing, and... I should have spoken to you sooner," he begins. "so... please, you hear me out. You may know that dwarves are... that dwarves have very little females amongst their population? It's in the nature of our people and we do not require females to reproduce. A healthy male dwarrow may conceive and carry a child to term." Kélan knows those are the bare bones, but they need to be out first. "I never thought about this, when we were together, because I doubted I could ever conceive, the more damage we take, the unlikely it gets. When... when I realized I was with child, we were already on the march back here. I... I know I should have told you, you had a right to know, even when my chances of bringing this child into this world alive were slim." For a moment Kélan's voice fails him, for so many diverging emotions well up in him, fear for how Boromir might react to the idea he had a child from him, the old hurts that stem from the time under the yoke, that makes Kélan so damaged, he's hardly fit to bear a child and the desperate wish to not lose Boromir over this.


Boromir

A number of emotions run through Boromir as he listens to Kélan's explanation - surprise, wonder, confusion, but most of everything a slowly growing realisation of exactly what Kélan means by this - Asár is his. His and Kélan's. He had a son, one that would mean he would never have to even look at all those ladies trying to claim his bed for that sake of status.

"He- he's mine..." he stumbles over trying to express everything going through his mind, and trying to shake his shock and wonder he looks down at Asár's little face, tracing a finger gently over his cheek and taking a hold of one small hand. "My son..." He murmurs.


Kélan

The words, the gentle, accepting words drive tears to Kélan's eyes and he feels ashamed he ever believed anything those ladies said. "Yes, he is ours." He says, wrapping both arms around Boromir, burying his face in the strong shoulder. "Forgive me... forgive me I had such doubts."


Boromir

Boromir loops the arm not supporting Asár around Kélan to hold him close. "I know you, you would not give birth to something wrong, or evil. Your child would only ever be something good and precious to me." Boromir recalls the tales told of sorcerers birthing horrors, but Kélan is neither a sorcerer like in any of those tales, nor would give rise to any sort of evil. Boromir could see in Asár the hints of the truth as Kélan has said, his son, totally innocent of anything wrong or evil.

"I mayy face some who would dispute the validity of any statement I make claiming Asár as my heir, but if there is way for me to do so, I will see it done."


Kélan

"it is not that,"Kélan leans close, his hand reaching up to gently cup Boromir's face. "I... while I wondered how you'd see my pregnancy, I... never feared you." He suddenly feels very small. "A number of courtiers and venerable Ladies took it upon themselves to visit here. Many were sure that you had much better prospects, even a love from long ago, now made possible. I... I should not have left believed them."


Boromir

A frown forms on Boromir's face as he hears that. "I have had to face any number of attempts to gain my interest since rumour of my receiving some form of lordship slipped out, though I have given no acknowledgements to any, though I cannot afford to outright offend either." He starts to speak of what he has had to face of late. "Though I have yet to encounter any past affairs either. Most of those who are still living know I would not stand for such... like Anarion..." He shakes his head. "Whoever made that claim is wrong, and if I could do so without causing offense, I would challenge them to an honour duel for claiming as much."

He looks into Kélan's eyes. "I will take no partner in this life but you. You hold my heart and I will not give it to any other, even if I lost you."


Kélan

The words, the honesty and the loyalty he can hear in them, make Kélan feel ashamed of himself, of his doubts. "She spoke of one Aedil of the Seas... though," he shakes his head. "I was stupid to believe her, or to doubt you." He takes Boromir's hand, intertwining their fingers. "I love you, Boromir, and knowing your heart, I will be more careful to evade them."


Boromir

That name prompts a soft groan of annoyance. "Aedil of the Seas was young lordling who thought he could charm himself into the higher ranks of the army be seducing commanding officers." A tone of disapproving contempt slips into Boromir's voice. "He tried more times than I expected he would have patience to do so to get himself into my bed, but it would seem he did not notice that I had seen him try the same tricks on others. I would have had him on court martial but his father fell ill and he was granted leave to return home. Thankfully, at least for myself, his father's illness ended in his death, keeping Aedil in the south to handle his family holdings. That was all the better for me as it kept me from being constantly being barraged with his attention."


Kélan

Kélan feels the heat rise in his cheeks, when he realizes how thoroughly the stately lady had tricked him. And he almost fell for it. "She made it sound like... no, she played me, and I acted almost like she wanted me to. I was a fool." His eyes meets Boromir's, there is little doubt where Asár got the green eyes. "I will be more careful in the future, I know you have to be careful with your standing at court." He once knew such things, in another life, and he can remember how to handle them.


Boromir

"I will never blame you for that, i would think you have been under stress of late, with the pregnancy and that I have been absent so much." His arm tightens around Kélan and he presses a soft kiss to his cheek. "I will make doubly sure to have more time away from the court, I do not like leaving you alone for such long periods, and doubly now we have Asár. I certainly do not wish to be forced to neglect my family and will do everything to be with you more often."


Kélan

Kélan leans into the embrace, the warmth enveloping him like a flame. "Elenarien was right..." he says softly, remembering what she said about Boromir's heart. He tilts his head to kiss Boromir gently. "Maybe we can find a different hideout, one that is less easily found by the courtiers... Anarion already suggested something like that. Some place that will be less noticed and easily reached by you, when you can get away from the city."


Boromir

"Elenarien...?" Boromir knows Kélan has at times called his special stone by that name, a very Elven-sounding name it is as well. However he is distracted by the mention of choosing a different place to stay. "I know I can trust him to look out for my well-being, and yours as well. Somewhere we can go that we will not be constantly harried sounds like an excellent idea."


Kélan

"He is a very loyal friend," Kélan replies, before returning to the other question. Carefully he picks up the stone, and placing it between their hands, so they both can feel her gentle warmth. "Do you remember Kizár and Anvari?" he asks, sure that Boromir will not have forgotten their adventures in Mt. Gundabad. "They came from... from a different destiny, one might say, a different life, a world where things played out differently. Kizár... she was drawn here by her counterpart." his eyes point to the dark stone between their hands. "in that other world she and I became friends, she became my sister... and Elenarien did here, after Kizár helped me find her in the rubble of Mt. Gundabad. She... she was the light you saw, on that day in the snow."


Boromir

Boromir remembers that light, bright, but warming, making him feel safe. He had thought it was a glimpse of Mandos, but the voice he vaguely recalls hearing was distinctly feminine, not what he would think of the Lord of the Dead, and bidding him instead to hold onto life. With one arm full of his sleeping son, and the other still around Kélan, he can only look at the darkly coloured stone and recall the dwarven lady, that day up in the north. Even as he look at the stone, he thinks he sees flickers of light within, but it is the soft touch of something within his mind, his spirit, that draws his attention.


Elennárë

"Boromir, my friend..." Elennárë speaks to him directly. "Do you know how glad I am Kélan has you? That you are so devoted to him? With you caring for him, I feel safe as well, just knowing he can be happy."


Kélan

Kélan feels a blush creep into his cheeks when he hears her voice, his sister has always been fiercely protective, from the moment on, they became close. And she can be very outspoken and wise. He reaches for both, Elenarien, and the gentle bond he shares with Boromir, trying to allow them both to see each other inside the dream world. Suddenly he feels Asár's spark, wriggling between all three of them, a tiny, bright light, between their dream forms.


Boromir

The vision Kélan draws him into shows him a warm inner world where Kélan remains curl by his side, but also grants him a face to see Elenarien by. It is the same face as Kizár, though that strike Boromir as nothing out of the expected. If Kizár was another version of herself, surely she would look that same? The small bright presence that slips in though is something else, though an instinct or odd sense tells him who it is.

He lets Asár settle in a comfortable place snuggled in close.


Elennárë

Elennárë smiles softly as Asár finds a comfortable spot for himself. "He wants all his family close, and I do think he knows well enough already that you are family... maybe sensed you near through the pregnancy." She comments, as she watches.


Kélan

"We were fairly close on the march back," Kélan replies, while he had been exhausted, they had spent many nights cuddled up against one another, and more than a few with more than cuddling. Those had been warm, close nights, and he is sure that Asár felt both their presence. "He knew Boromir from the moment he was here," he adds, before looking at Boromir again. In here, inside their dreamworld, his presence is brighter, stronger. "Kizár had something that allowed her to take physical form... it is something far beyond my skills and knowledge in this life. But in spirit, Elenarien is always there..."


Elennárë

"She did show me her knowledge of the piece that gave her the ability to change shape, but unless I do find Maitimo..." She shrugs. "Next to Telperinquar, he would be the one who might be able to create one."


Boromir

The names are not familiar, but given they sound Elven, Boromir doubts he knows who they refer to anyway. "Even so, I am glad you are here as well. You saved me from death on that battlefield... and knowing Kélan has your support..." He gives a one-shouldered shrug. I know what it is to lose family, and to find a new family as well."


Kélan

"I still have hopes on Maitimo, maybe on Telperinquar even, if... if some memories do not prove entirely wrong." Kélan says, then he sees Boromir's confused look and casts a glance back to his sister. The names, the Sindarin names will be known to Boromir, but then they will bring questions. Kélan does not want secrets, not from his love, and yet this is not his secret to share.


Elennárë

"Memories?" Elennárë cannot help ask, distracted a bit from Boromir's curious looks. "Do you think he could be there, in this life as well? I know Kizár had spent time with him, after she let Maitimo know who she was."


Kélan

"At least one person believed that Celebrimbor was still alive, inside the fallen city of Ost-in-Edhil, and that he would not be permitted to die easily..." Kélan replies, carefully, the words do not come out easy, not on this particular topic. "And the legend of a captive arcane smith inside the ruins of this city is something that lived on among dwarrow right until... right before we went back to the Mountain."


Elennárë

Elennárë bits her lip in thought. "Maybe we can make inquiries, find out if those stories are still going around. A lot could have happened since then, but I have to wonder, I have an impression from what Kizár did let me see of her memory, that it needed a member of your family to break his bonds..."


Boromir

Boromir stays quiet as they discuss the possibilities, though the name Celebrimbor is something he does recognise. Does Elenarien know him by a different name? It would seem so.


Kélan

Kélan can see Boromir's confusion, and gently hugs him. " Telperinquar is the Quenya name of the great smith Celebrimbor, and Maitimo is the Quenya name of the equally famous warrior king Maedhros, who would also be said Telperinquar's Uncle." he explains. "they both are family to Elenarien. And I would agree that it might take their skill to break Telperinquar's bonds. Even the one trying to save him had doubts that he could do it... and he paid with his life for even trying."


Boromir

"That is... a very great family you come from, Lady Elenarien." Boromir says respectfully. With such names as Maedhros and Celebrimbor as kin... he does have to keep a grip on his surprise.


Elennárë

Elennárë blushes lightly as she sees the look on Boromir's face. "You could say that my sisters and I were adopted into the family by Fëanor... a long, *very* long time ago, in Valinor." Her voice is soft as she finishes that statement. "Then I and my sisters were abducted... our story is very well-known... but you've seen my form in the outer world. People mistake us as lifeless objects - trinkets to be owned." Sadness crosses her face. "I still believe my sister's wishes were ignored by Elves who wanted the pride of owning a Silmaril, but did not care to listen when she protested... or worse, eventually persuaded her to turn against our brothers."


Boromir

A Silmaril? Boromir blinks in surprise at that. Her form as a stone was dark, glossy black. Reputation would claim the Great Jewels were white and shining. He still is willing to believe her on it, what other stone could have a living soul within?


Kélan

The glance going back to the obsidian stone form, and back to Elenarien bespeaks a question louder than thousand voices. "Elenarien and Maitimo both fell into the fiery chasm," Kélan explains. "Elenarien's form was deeply changed by the ancient fires as for Maitimo.... legend says he died, my people have a story of a gravely wounded elf found by a lava-stream long long ago, so long ago the origin of that story faded from memory. My father's people still remembered the tale."


Elennárë

"Lord of the Dragon Forge..." Elennárë repeats the title she has from Kizár. "Though he likely left after Dáin Ironfoot took the throne."


Boromir

"And he could now be... anywhere in Middle Earth?" He guesses, having already ruled the possibility Maedhros could have sailed, if Elenarien's belief he is somewhere that would make him easy to find. Boromir absently adjust his hold on Asár, though it would seem he is well asleep.


Kélan

"I cannot say, I was not there when Daín was crowned," Kélan replies without any bitterness. He knows from Dwalin that no one knew of his fate, not even Dáin in Erebor. "But we might ask Dwalin once he is back - he might know something. Otherwise we will ask the people of the Reach for what they know. No arcane smith ever vanished entirely off the face of the earth." Kélan replies, seeing the possibilities. Boromir's movement draws his attention back to little Asár, who is cozily snuggled into his father's arm and fast asleep.


Boromir

Boromir gently leans towards Kélan, their sleeping son between them. "Though this gives us other things to wonder at and start looking into, I would say right now that I would not mind following Asár's example and getting some sleep. I do not doubt he will wake us at some point, when he needs food... or changing."


Kélan

"Or someone to carry him outside for a while," Kélan replies with a smile. "he was born under the stars... and he loves them already." He feather's a kiss on Boromir's cheek as the dream world fades and they sit again by the fire. "And I'd not mind being cuddled with both of you tonight."


Boromir

That bring a soft smile to Boromir's lips and he moves to kiss Kélan briefly. "That sounds like something I would be glad to do."


Kélan

Kélan leans close, returning the kiss, before they move over to the bed, to settle for the night. Oromë meows, when he is evicted from his usual resting place and has to move downward. Snuggled with Boromir, their child resting safely between them, Kélan falls happily asleep.

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