Little life snippets 4/???
Rumors
Tuiwel is in a state when she reaches the gardens, with her sisters right on her heels. Never have they seen her move so quickly, nor abandon her studies because of an off handed comment. Yet as they reach the small garden of their home in Tirion they share a quick worried glance.
“You don’t think...?”
“—Barathî forbid.”
They surge forward, making quick work of closing the distance between themselves and where Tuiwel now stands in front of their atû. He looks startled to see the three of them, which is not surprising. All three of them were supposed to be away from the house today, Tuiwel busy with her studies and the twins off applying for apprenticeships. The trio met up for lunch, as per usual, and everything was going so smoothing until a half whispered rumor caught Tuiwel’s attention, which led the three of them here to the gardens.
“It’s true, isn’t it? The rumors.” Tuiwel is shaking, hands balled into white-knuckled fists as she tries to keep tears at bay.
Legolas brushes the dirt off of his hands with a cloth rag, exchanging a confused look with Tathrê as he does so. Tathrê is now sitting up now, his book discarded to the side. The once prince’s gaze returns to his children, brow furrowing. “Darling, perhaps you should be more specific. There are a lot of rumors floating around.”
All that escapes Tuiwel is a pained little whimper. “The one about...” Nóruihel glances over to Tathrê, then back to her atû, unsure of how to continue. “You and him. An affair,” Minuial chimes in helpfully, finishing the elder twin’s sentence.
Though Legolas is unsurprised that there is a rumor of that sorts, what does surprise him is that his own daughters have seemingly bought into it. He and Tathrê are close yes, perhaps too close in the eyes of the Noldor, yet this is the way they have always been, a bit more subdued because of his marriage to a Noldo, but the same. And they would not change it for sensitive sensibilities. Elrohir might have held his heart, but Tathrê has half of his soul.
Whilist he struggles to compose himself and get over the shock, Tathrê, meanwhile, pretends he hasn’t heard a thing of what the girls have just all but accused, suddenly finding a certain patch of flowers incredibly interesting to look at.
“There is no affair. Do not listen to those rumors. I respect your father and his customs more than that.. Tathrê and I are close, yes, and we were once betrothed, but that changes nothing. He is my best friend and my fargwanur, my hunt-brother and he always will be. Always has been. If someone mistakes that for an affair and begins these rumors, then they have little else to do and no sense about them whatsoever.”
A little sniffle escapes Tuiwel, and internally she curses herself for being so sensitive towards the numerous rumors that surround her atû, to which he seems so unwavering towards despite their cruelty. A brave face, a front perhaps, but it is a good one. “So you love father then, right?”
“I...care for him, yes.” Though he doubts he will ever profess his utter infatuation for Elrohir as he once used to again. What, after all, was the point?
The twins nearly wince at the hesitation, and Tathrê is now inspecting his nails, almost certainly hoping the ground will open up and swallow him at this point if it meant escaping the terrible awkwardness of this little family drama.
But the answer seems to quell Tuiwel’s fears for now, and she glances to the grass beneath her feet, shoulders losing their tension at last. “I am so sorry, atû. I was just— caught up in it all and I never should have—”
“Hush, child. All is forgiven.” He stands then, moving to embrace his youngest. “Perhaps we should spend some time away from the city. It might do us all good.” A kiss is placed on Tuiwel’s forehead and he pulls back, giving her a reassuring smile. “Now go convince your father.”
Near immediately a mischievous look is shared between the twins and they giggle to each other before running towards the house in a chorus of ‘Father!’, as Tuiwel struggles to keep up with them.
With a sigh, Legolas sinks back down onto the soft grass, running a hand through his hair. Huffing softly, he cuts his eyes towards Tathrê. “You could have helped, you know.”
A wicked little grin that he tries — and fails to hide tugs at his lips. “Hm? Sorry, I must’ve been day dreaming. What just happened?”
The only response he gets is Legolas’ dirty hand rag hitting him squarely in the face.












