The one where I encourage spit bubbles

[celegorm]

I had lunch with Aredhel and Maeglin yesterday. What a sweet kiddo. Maybe with the right influences, he will turn out better than he did in his previous lifetime...though I worry that Turu's odd sense of fashion might rub off on him...


Celegorm: *shows up at the palace with a stuffed plushie dog that he
bought at the market as a gift for Mae. Finds a guard* Can you direct
me to Aredhel's suite? *guard points the way*

Aredhel: *getting Maeglin ready for their lunch, and is just stepping out of her rooms when she sees Celegorm walking up, smiles brightly* Cele, you're early! *hugs him tightly, Mae hanging around by her legs and looking up at the new face*



Celegorm: *hugs her back* You know me...always on time. *grins and
kneels down* You must be Maeglin. I'm Celegorm. *holds out the stuffed
dog* This is for you.

Mae: *looks up at Aredhel, then grins and takes the dog, hugging it* fank 'oo.

Aredhel: *smiles* That was sweet of you, cousin. *takes his arm and puts a hand on Mae's head to guide him* I asked the cooks to make something special for you. Unfortunately, Turu won't be joining us today. *grins, did want to cause a bit of mischief, but is happy to have Celegorm's company on his own, too*

Celegorm: *ruffles Mae's hair* You are welcome. *gives Aredhel's hand
a squeeze* That's fine. I saw your brother a few days ago when I
caught him crouching in the bushes outside my house. No matter how
high he ascends, he's still a weirdo.

Aredhel: *laughs* That's so true! *heads towards the kitchens with them* Have you had any hunting trips outside since last I saw you?

Mae: *runs around a bit in circles as they walk, still near Aredhel's legs, playing with his new toy*

Celegorm: I do, actually. After Turu finished digging around in my
bushes, he asked me to do some hunting for your upcoming party. Any
special requests? He mentioned something about snake meat. *watches
Mae run around* He's energetic, isn't he?

Aredhel: Oh, he remembered I like snake meat! What an attentive brother. *grins* Hm. Perhaps you could get some deer meat. Mae likes that, particularly. *smiles at her boy, nodding* Very energetic. I need to take him to he gardens more often and let him run around in the open.

Celegorm: Venison. So noted. Have you thought about getting him a real
dog? *scratches his chin* Though I guess you could just let him play
with Turu's new puppy...which is what he found in my bushes, so I
guess technically it's "our" puppy. He named it Idril 3. I don't
understand his need to name everything after his daughter.

Aredhel: I think he missed her. *shrugs* Perhaps Mae and Idril can help him come up with a new name. *watches as Mae runs into Cele's leg on his next turn around and laughs, steadying him* A dog might be a good idea... Think a puppy is a good start? Turu might just share the puppy with him.

Celegorm: If Turu can be convinced to share, that would be the best
option. Maeglin could play with the puppy without you having to deal
with crate training, feeding, walking it...all those tedious tasks
associated with a new puppy. Let your brother handle the headaches.
Mae can just enjoy playing. *watches him run around his legs again*
How is he adjusting to his new home?

Aredhel: Good idea, let him deal with the unpleasant things! *smiles* Mae's adjusting well. I'm a bit surprised he hasn't been more fussy, since he's only known the woods up to now. Everyone has been very welcoming, though, and already his uncles are doting on him. Turu's been especially good, watching Mae for chunks of time. He wants to help raise him. *fondly, grabbing Maeglin up the next time he comes around to pepper kisses to his face before setting him down again*

Celegorm: As long as he doesn't pass on his horrible sense of
fashion...*laughs* I don't think Mae will lack for babysitters. In
fact, you may have to make sure he's not spoiled rotten. *bends down*
Want a hug from Cousin Celegorm?

Aredhel: *laughs* It's true. I'm afraid there will be lots of disciplining as he grows up.
Mae: hug! *stops in front of Celegorm and holds his arms out for a hug and for picking up*

Celegorm: *picks him up and swings him around, then holds him on his
hip with one arm* You're such a big boy! And you have your mother's
smile. *kisses his forehead, then gives Aredhel a look* I take it he's
not asking any...questions. *raises a pointed eyebrow, meaning
questions about Eol*

Mae: *squeals and hugs him, giggling*

Aredhel: Not yet. I think he's still settling in and everything is so new right now. Once he's gotten used to the new people and the new home, I know he'll start asking...

Celegorm: *kisses his cheek* Let me know how I can help. Turu said
there's no reason for concern, but I still worry about you. I know how
he was...And if there is anything I can do to help with Mae, just ask.
I helped raise a couple of brothers, you know. *grins* They turned out
okay...for the most part.



Aredhel: *kisses Celegorm's cheek next* I know I can come to you for anything, and I will. As for him... Don't worry. Really. We're not going to hear from or see him again. *brushes a curly lock back from Maeglin's forehead, smiling and teasing* Yes, for the most part they turned out okay. But I know Mae will love having your company. You can help me teach him to hunt!

Celegorm: Absolutely. If he's anything like you, he'll be a natural,
and with my expertise added on top, he'll be amazing. But enough about
him. Have you decided what you are going to do around here? I know
being a mother will keep you busy, but I also know how restless you
can be.

Aredhel: *grins and gets everyone set at a table, kisses Maeglin's head, giving him small bits of food* I ran into Finrod the other day, and he suggested joining the council... It's an idea. I'm not sure what else to do just yet. I know our hunting trips will help, though.

Celegorm: *between bites of food* Council...well, maybe you can be the
voice of reason on it. Bring up the idea of more parks with better
areas for dogs to play. Huan needs some variety. *grins* I'm sure
Maeglin and *coughs* Idril 3 would like a nice place to play, too.

Aredhel: *eats and fixes Mae up as he makes a mess with his food, laughing at Celegorm's comment* Me, the voice of reason! Funny, Finrod said something similar. *grins* More parks would be nice, though. And perhaps I could bring something to the table. I'll run it past Turu. What about you? Other than the hunting trips and Lio, what do you do in the city?

Celegorm: *grins at that comment* I like the way you put that.
Honestly, not much else. Hunting keeps me busy. Spending time with Lio
keeps me happy. Huan keeps me fit, since all he does is chase things.
I did promise to give Luthien some language lessons, but I haven't
found the time to meet with her. We have a bit of a complicated
relationship. And I should probably check in with Father sometime
soon. Kano keeps tabs on him, but I still wonder what he is up to.

Aredhel: *laughs and nods, squeezing his hand* How is your relationship with Luthien complicated? And Uncle Feanor... How is he doing here?

Celegorm: *shrugs* In my previous life, I became somewhat obsessed
with her. Even now, I find myself drawn to her...or I did...less so
now that I am seeing Lio. Regardless, I want to make amends for the
way I treated her, so offering her language lessons seems like the
least I could do. As for Father...*grins and shakes his head* He's as
cryptic as ever. Maybe a little less insane than he was there at the
end of my previous life, but I can see the crazy lurking beneath the
surface.

Aredhel: Don't give in to obsession. Trust me, I know where that leads. *thinking of Eol* I've heard rumors of her around the palace, just little ones, but I haven't had the chance to meet her. *takes a bite of her food and is thoughtful a moment* Please keep an eye on uncle. I don't want him to go down that path again, and there's no telling with the way things are in this city what might happen... *wipes Mae down again, sighing with a smile* So messy.

Mae: *makes bubbles and giggles*

Celegorm: No worries. I learned my lesson last time when it comes to
obsession. And, as I said, my desires seem to be leaning in a
different direction this time around. *grins at Maeglin* He reminds me
of Caranthir at that age...except I think he makes better spit
bubbles.

Aredhel: *smiles* Good.

Mae: *grins at Celegorm and bubbles it up*

Aredhel: *laughs* He's very good at making them. Please unteach him. *amused, though, and wipes his mouth* Is Caranthir here as well? I haven't heard anything of him lately.

Celegorm: No, none of my younger brothers are here, though the version
of Maitimo who showed up is quite young. Frankly, I think Turu's head
would pop off and roll down main street if any more of us showed up! I
do wish Curufin would show up. I know he'd love to see you, too.

Aredhel: *nods* I do miss all of them. But I'm glad I have you here now! *kisses his cheek*


**Note - (We've decided Maeglin is mobile, so ignore the 'just learning to walk' bit in the Ar/Finrod chat)