Post by Aerin Vaettir on Feb 27, 2014 22:05:07 GMT -5
The wind blew through the trees, rustling the leaves and carrying the scent of spring to the elf that sat in the small gazebo. The wind lifted his golden hair off his neck, and rustled the feathers of the raven that sat in his lap. Aerin absently stroked the raven’s back, musing deeply about the argument he had with his father earlier that morning, and thinking also of the coming of age ceremony that would come next month. Both he and Elle would turn fifteen next month, and with it a new world of responsibility. They wouldn’t be regarded as children anymore. Both twins found the idea exciting and relieving. They were tired of being treated like little ones now.
He shifted, being drawn from his thoughts as he heard footsteps approach. They were light, almost skipping. It was Elle.
“Hey Aerin.” She said softly, the breeze blowing, bring Aerin the scent of spring as the sweet smell of his twin sister.
“Hey…” He said softly. The raven shifted in his lap, ruffling her feathers before readjusting. Elle stepped into the shade of the gazebo and sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a while.
“You and daddy fought again over the bird, huh?” Elle said, breaking the silence.
“I’m naming her Lenore.” Aerin replied, the raven letting out a small sound, as if approving of the name. Aerin smiled, scratching under Lenore’s chin.
“Lenore? You named her? Daddy won’t be happy.” Elle said softly, looking at the raven.
“I don’t care.” Aerin said testily, turning his face from his sister.
“Daddy doesn’t like her.”
“No.”
“Mama doesn’t like her.”
“No.”
“I don’t know if I even like her.”
“No?” Aerin asked, sighing. He prepared to listen to Elle launch into some speech as to why he shouldn’t keep the strange raven that followed him home one day from lessons after he offered the creature a little treat. He prepared to listen to Elle explain that a raven shouldn’t be able to shift, take on a human form, or speak for that matter. He heard this speech from their mother. Argued about it with his father on numerous occasions.
“But you like her.” Elle said instead, surprising her brother. “And I can accept that. Even if she looks like a freaky hell spawn in her human form.”
Lenore turned her beady gaze onto the female elf and tilted her head.
“Freaky hell spawn.” she mimicked in Elle’s voice. Aerin smiled, and Elle smiled as well, though it was a nervous smile.
“The Council have been talking about her though.” Elle went on, and Aerin realized this was why she was sitting here talking to him now. “They don’t like her either. They think she’s evil. They want to get rid of her, and they’re nervous that you’re keeping her. They’re already nervous because you’re learning magic.”
“Those old men are ignorant asses. They want to destroy anything they don’t understand or that isn’t accepted in their religion.” Aerin snapped. Elle sighed.
“I know…but I just thought I’d tell you. They’ll pressure daddy to make you get rid of her. They’re really standing their ground on this. They might threaten daddy’s position in the Council if you don’t get rid of her.”
Aerin stroked Lenore again, frowning. He wouldn’t get rid of her, he wouldn’t hand her over to the Council so they could kill her. Lenore was strange and a troublemaker, but she was also kind. She didn’t regard Aerin with pity. And…well it was nice to take care of something. Everyone took care of Aerin, and he liked caring for Lenore. The raven was nothing but bones when he encountered her. Sickly and starving. He offered the raven some food and Lenore had followed him home, hopping along as he limped his way back home. Aerin took her into his home and brought her back to health. She wasn’t perfectly healthy yet, but she could fly again, and she was quite lively now.
“Uh-oh…” Elle suddenly said, standing up. Aerin perked.
“What is it?” He asked. Lenore stood in his lap, giving a harsh call, before scrambling up his chest to roost on his shoulder.
“Father. And the other members of the Council. They’re coming this way. I think they mean to settle the matter with…Lenore.” Elle said, and Aerin could hear a little crack and some chewing.
“I guess they do. And stop chewing on your nails.” Aerin replied, standing up slowly, using the assistance of his cane. The two twins stood, one watching the approach of the twelve men, one listening. They all stopped before the gazebo. Eleven faces scowled at the raven that sat on Aerin’s shoulder. One face, which perfectly mirrored the twins, save for the eyes, was calm and watchful.
“Aerin, it has been decided within the council that that…thing that sits upon your shoulder now is of evil origin, and should not be permitted to live with other creatures of the Gods.” One man spoke up, stepping forward. “It should be gotten rid of. Hand it over.”
“She.” Aerin said flatly. “It is a female. And her name is Lenore. And I’ll not hand her over. Her life is mine and I won’t give it to you.” The older elf flushed red, balling his hands into fists.
“Now listen here boy, that thing is dangerous! It’d be best to end the danger here and now!” He said. Several men of the Council nodded, a few shouting here, here! The elf which looked so much like his twin children stepped away from the group a ways, standing closer to watch his son. He said nothing, crossing his arms.
“Lenore is no more dangerous than a common housecat. You know nothing about her.” Aerin replied. Lenore gave a harsh cawing sound, shifting on Aerin’s shoulder.
“You’re right! We know nothing! She is unnatural! A demon! We must destroy her!” The old elf said, stepping forward. Aerin tapped his cane, tilting his head.
“If you want her, come and claim her. But know that I’ll fight. If I must summon storms, create fire, or fling stones, I’ll fight.” Aerin snapped. The elf stopped, glaring at the boy.
“You’ll use no magics against me boy. I am head of the Council.” He growled. The others looked less sure of themselves.
“Come, then!” Aerin challenged, tossing away his cane, his anger clear on his face. “Come and try to take Lenore from me, if you’re so confident! I’ll not let you!” The elf stared at Aerin, shock on his face. He turned to the brown haired elf that stood a ways off, watching.
“Lothlorien, talk some sense into your boy! Tell him! Tell him he must rid us of this demonic pest!” He pleaded. The other all looked to the man, who looked thoughtful. After a moment or two he roused himself.
“I think my son made his position clear. I’ll not test his skill in magic. He learns from the hermit Valerian, and Valerian is powerful indeed.” He said. The other eleven members of the Council stared in open shock.
“You mean to say you fear your own son!?” One cried, exasperated. Lothlorien shook his head slowly.
“No, not fear. I respect his choice. He wishes to keep the raven, and he is prepared to fight for her. That tells me enough.” He said, turning to walk away. Everyone stood in shocked silence, even Aerin.
“This is what happens when you let that strange hermit teach your son! What a foolish choice it was!” the Council head said. Elle winced when Lothlorien turned, training his sharp and heavy gaze on the man. For a full minute he stared at the older elf, who squirmed under his gaze. Then Lothlorien turned and walked back towards his home. The other members looked from Aerin to the Council head to Lothlorien. Little by little they trickled away. The Council head stood, opening and closing his fists, glaring at Aerin. Finally he curses and stomped off. Elle let out the breath she had been holding and she looked at her brother. Lenore was nuzzling her head against Aerin’s cheek, and Aerin was petting her. The scene looked sweet, and made Elle smile. She reached out, giving Lenore a stroke. The raven looked at her, blinking.
“You know…” Elle said softly, scratching Lenore under the chin, “Lenore is a nice name. I like it.”
He shifted, being drawn from his thoughts as he heard footsteps approach. They were light, almost skipping. It was Elle.
“Hey Aerin.” She said softly, the breeze blowing, bring Aerin the scent of spring as the sweet smell of his twin sister.
“Hey…” He said softly. The raven shifted in his lap, ruffling her feathers before readjusting. Elle stepped into the shade of the gazebo and sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a while.
“You and daddy fought again over the bird, huh?” Elle said, breaking the silence.
“I’m naming her Lenore.” Aerin replied, the raven letting out a small sound, as if approving of the name. Aerin smiled, scratching under Lenore’s chin.
“Lenore? You named her? Daddy won’t be happy.” Elle said softly, looking at the raven.
“I don’t care.” Aerin said testily, turning his face from his sister.
“Daddy doesn’t like her.”
“No.”
“Mama doesn’t like her.”
“No.”
“I don’t know if I even like her.”
“No?” Aerin asked, sighing. He prepared to listen to Elle launch into some speech as to why he shouldn’t keep the strange raven that followed him home one day from lessons after he offered the creature a little treat. He prepared to listen to Elle explain that a raven shouldn’t be able to shift, take on a human form, or speak for that matter. He heard this speech from their mother. Argued about it with his father on numerous occasions.
“But you like her.” Elle said instead, surprising her brother. “And I can accept that. Even if she looks like a freaky hell spawn in her human form.”
Lenore turned her beady gaze onto the female elf and tilted her head.
“Freaky hell spawn.” she mimicked in Elle’s voice. Aerin smiled, and Elle smiled as well, though it was a nervous smile.
“The Council have been talking about her though.” Elle went on, and Aerin realized this was why she was sitting here talking to him now. “They don’t like her either. They think she’s evil. They want to get rid of her, and they’re nervous that you’re keeping her. They’re already nervous because you’re learning magic.”
“Those old men are ignorant asses. They want to destroy anything they don’t understand or that isn’t accepted in their religion.” Aerin snapped. Elle sighed.
“I know…but I just thought I’d tell you. They’ll pressure daddy to make you get rid of her. They’re really standing their ground on this. They might threaten daddy’s position in the Council if you don’t get rid of her.”
Aerin stroked Lenore again, frowning. He wouldn’t get rid of her, he wouldn’t hand her over to the Council so they could kill her. Lenore was strange and a troublemaker, but she was also kind. She didn’t regard Aerin with pity. And…well it was nice to take care of something. Everyone took care of Aerin, and he liked caring for Lenore. The raven was nothing but bones when he encountered her. Sickly and starving. He offered the raven some food and Lenore had followed him home, hopping along as he limped his way back home. Aerin took her into his home and brought her back to health. She wasn’t perfectly healthy yet, but she could fly again, and she was quite lively now.
“Uh-oh…” Elle suddenly said, standing up. Aerin perked.
“What is it?” He asked. Lenore stood in his lap, giving a harsh call, before scrambling up his chest to roost on his shoulder.
“Father. And the other members of the Council. They’re coming this way. I think they mean to settle the matter with…Lenore.” Elle said, and Aerin could hear a little crack and some chewing.
“I guess they do. And stop chewing on your nails.” Aerin replied, standing up slowly, using the assistance of his cane. The two twins stood, one watching the approach of the twelve men, one listening. They all stopped before the gazebo. Eleven faces scowled at the raven that sat on Aerin’s shoulder. One face, which perfectly mirrored the twins, save for the eyes, was calm and watchful.
“Aerin, it has been decided within the council that that…thing that sits upon your shoulder now is of evil origin, and should not be permitted to live with other creatures of the Gods.” One man spoke up, stepping forward. “It should be gotten rid of. Hand it over.”
“She.” Aerin said flatly. “It is a female. And her name is Lenore. And I’ll not hand her over. Her life is mine and I won’t give it to you.” The older elf flushed red, balling his hands into fists.
“Now listen here boy, that thing is dangerous! It’d be best to end the danger here and now!” He said. Several men of the Council nodded, a few shouting here, here! The elf which looked so much like his twin children stepped away from the group a ways, standing closer to watch his son. He said nothing, crossing his arms.
“Lenore is no more dangerous than a common housecat. You know nothing about her.” Aerin replied. Lenore gave a harsh cawing sound, shifting on Aerin’s shoulder.
“You’re right! We know nothing! She is unnatural! A demon! We must destroy her!” The old elf said, stepping forward. Aerin tapped his cane, tilting his head.
“If you want her, come and claim her. But know that I’ll fight. If I must summon storms, create fire, or fling stones, I’ll fight.” Aerin snapped. The elf stopped, glaring at the boy.
“You’ll use no magics against me boy. I am head of the Council.” He growled. The others looked less sure of themselves.
“Come, then!” Aerin challenged, tossing away his cane, his anger clear on his face. “Come and try to take Lenore from me, if you’re so confident! I’ll not let you!” The elf stared at Aerin, shock on his face. He turned to the brown haired elf that stood a ways off, watching.
“Lothlorien, talk some sense into your boy! Tell him! Tell him he must rid us of this demonic pest!” He pleaded. The other all looked to the man, who looked thoughtful. After a moment or two he roused himself.
“I think my son made his position clear. I’ll not test his skill in magic. He learns from the hermit Valerian, and Valerian is powerful indeed.” He said. The other eleven members of the Council stared in open shock.
“You mean to say you fear your own son!?” One cried, exasperated. Lothlorien shook his head slowly.
“No, not fear. I respect his choice. He wishes to keep the raven, and he is prepared to fight for her. That tells me enough.” He said, turning to walk away. Everyone stood in shocked silence, even Aerin.
“This is what happens when you let that strange hermit teach your son! What a foolish choice it was!” the Council head said. Elle winced when Lothlorien turned, training his sharp and heavy gaze on the man. For a full minute he stared at the older elf, who squirmed under his gaze. Then Lothlorien turned and walked back towards his home. The other members looked from Aerin to the Council head to Lothlorien. Little by little they trickled away. The Council head stood, opening and closing his fists, glaring at Aerin. Finally he curses and stomped off. Elle let out the breath she had been holding and she looked at her brother. Lenore was nuzzling her head against Aerin’s cheek, and Aerin was petting her. The scene looked sweet, and made Elle smile. She reached out, giving Lenore a stroke. The raven looked at her, blinking.
“You know…” Elle said softly, scratching Lenore under the chin, “Lenore is a nice name. I like it.”
