milliways_bar | (no subject)

And then there was a slightly violet deity turning up beside her, coffee in hand, and beaming down at her.

"Morning, Nerdanel!" Asar-Suti said.

Bright grey eyes lift to Sooty's face -- yes, she has finally caught on to the nickname she had heard him called.

"Morning, Sooty." She pats the seat beside her. "Join me?"

"Of course," Asar-Suti said, sitting down beside her and putting his coffee on the table.

"So what are you reading?"

She closes the book, showing him the cover -- Little Women.

"I was told it was a classic tale. I find it engaging. Different from the leisure novels we have in Aman."

"I think I saw the title on a list," Asar-Suti mused. "What is it about?"

She isn't very far into the book, but she's got the idea of it.

"About a mother and her four young daughters and how they manage without a male influence during something called the Civil War."

Nerdanel still doesn't know much about Earth's wars -- she's not really interested in that.

"Some Earth cultures are very benighted about that - they can't imagine women managing without men," Asar-Suti said.

His Ihlini had always been much more egalitarian than their Cheysuli adversaries - so Asar-Suti didn't much approve of gender prejudices.

She smirks at him.

"I wonder what they would think of a woman raising seven boys on her own."

"They might be scandalised about all those boys lacking male influence in their life, and secretly suspet they might turn into nancy boys or even fall in love with other men," Asar-Suti said, in a slightly sour tone of voice. "At least that's what I have heard Earth people saying."

"I somehow doubt being raised by only myself caused Nelyo to turn to Fingon," she chuckles. "Those two were inseparable from the moment they laid eyes on one another. My other sons either played happily with the girls or showed an interest in box genders." She seems very proud that her sons would not exclude love from their lives based on gender alone. "I do have a grandson, after all," she points out.

"Oh yes, the one who was involved with ring-making in the Second Age," Asar-Suti said, remembering the appendices of 'Lord of the Rings' and the last somewhat tacked-on part of the Silmarillion.

She nods, marking her place in the book.

"Celebrimbor. He was such a good child," Nerdanel murmurs, remembering that little boy who would run through the house, being chased by his uncles. "I would like more grandchildren." The Elf sighs hopelessly. "I adore children and family, Sooty, and I feel mine was retarded in its growth before it ever bloomed into what it could have been."

"Then you were well-matched with your husband at least in the desire for offspring?" Asar-Suti enquired. "I don't know much about children; my sorcerers and witches only ever brought me their children once they were past puberty. I've never seen so many babies as I did this last year here in Milliways. Starting with Ratty's kids that I saw born in Gil's old room, even before Gil and I first made love."

Asar-Suti didn't feel the need to be coy in front of Nerdanel any more.

As if coy had ever been necessary.

"I had never thought to have seven children!" she says with a laugh. "And after so many years, I never expected to be bearing an eighth." She pats her swollen belly. "But I am pleased. Happy to have my children back and a new one on his way."

Her eyes light up.

"Have you spoken to Gorlim or Mandos? Have they told you what they have done?" she asks excitedly.

Asar-Suti nodded, smiling brightly. "I don't know about 'they', I just know that Námo was going to let your other sons go as well, as there was noting keeping them, any more. I am so happy for you! What did Maglor say about that?"

She blushes.

"I have not spoken to Cáno about it yet. I have not seen him. I keep my eyes out for him, and I am sure he will be as pleased as I--" She cannot stop smiling. "Gorlim sent Moryo back himself. Mandos' power seems to be his to access when he desires him to," she says softly. "But they are back! When we visit next month, they shall be toddling along, two years into their second life."

"That is a very great privilege," Asar-Suti said. "But yes, I liked to give my favourite Ihlini special powers as well; Strahan, one of my very favourites, I even offered godhood beside me."

He sipped his coffee, grinned at Nerdanel, and added, "And if I find the good master Kanafinwe hiding in my garden shed and composing an entire opera, I'm going to kick him out of there and send him to you."

"Oh, please do," she replies with a smile. "I have not seen him in days."

Nerdanel leans her head so her temple rests comfortably against Asar-Suti's shoulder.

"Have you felt him move yet?" she asks him quietly, unsure if she had shared Feaho's activity with the god.

"Then he must be composing," Asar-Suti said. "There was some weirdness with the bar's musicians the other week; perhaps that got him as well?"

He put his arm around Nerdanel's shoulder, but looked at her belly with something of alarm. "Am I allowed to touch it? Won't little Feahelce mind?"

"Meldir," she says with a grin. "You are so dear to me. Both you and Gil. Why would you not be allowed?" Nerdanel takes his free hand and presses it to her belly. "He has been active this morning; I already know he will not permit me to sleep late when I have him."

She waits a few moments, feels her son stir, and moves Sooty's hand accordingly, allowing him to feel the slight stretch of a limb against her.

"Gorlim was there when he first moved; he was so sad that night, and Feaho stretched, letting him know he was there, he could hear him."

Asar-Suti gasped at feeling the movement underneath Nerdanel's skirts.

"He kicked the place where my hand is!" he exclaimed. "There is somebody in there - oh, what a miracle!"

She stares at him in surprise.

"Have you never felt that?" she asks. "He does it frequently during the day. Soon, he will be very, very active, kicking my insides with abandon," the Elf says fondly.

"No," Asar-Suti breathed. "It is fascinating! But won't he, erm, keep kicking your internal organs in an unpleasant manner?"

"Right now he is just stretching," she explains as she feels him shift again, poking at the purple deity's hand. "He's still too small to cause me much discomfort, but big enough to let others know of his presence."

She smiles at him.

"It is remarkable, really."

"It is utterly amazing," Asar-Suti said, stroking Nerdanel's belly with a lot of reverence and some reticence.

She cuddles a little closer.

"I met a woman named Amanda the other day, who immediately asked to touch my stomach." A shadow crosses her face. "She cannot bear children; it is a shortcoming of her race. But she reminded me how lucky this child will be -- how loved and cared for."

"I know Amanda, she's - my Strahan and she are a bit sweet on each other," Asar-Suti said.

She smiles up at him.

"Oh? She was very kind. We spoke of the children of her world, how they suffer so at the hands of parents, circumstance and life in general." Her lips frown. "It was an unpleasant conversation."

"Of children suffering? That is something that happens on many worlds, unfortunatly," Asar-Suti said with a little sigh.

"It was not something I have been seen firsthand. The worst of suffering was the lack of attention my sons received from their father. Compared with what Amanda spoke of... 'twas nothing, really." She sighs. "Aman shelters many of us from what others witnessed themselves as they walked through lands we had no desire to see."

"Yes," Asar-Suti said, "Elves live in a paradise while humans make heir own hell."

She closes her eyes, humming quietly again, enjoying the closeness of her friend as Feaho settled down once more for a nap.

He would need his energy, after all, to wake her at two in the morning.