Many Journeys by Elleth

Ratiocination

Carnistir is going to be a big brother, and Nerdanel offers comfort. A double-drabble.

"Carnistir, look at me."

The bedcovers quivered. Curled up and barely visible among the pillows and blankets my youngest continued to ignore me. This stubbornness, Míriel's trait, had rendered others wordless and witless before. I sat down on the side of the bed. A hand snaked from underneath the covers, at once clutching a fistful of my dress and attempting to push me away.

Words came, then, for I knew what ailed him. 

"You will not be loved less. Never and never."

A mop of unruly black hair appeared, a flushed face smeared with tears. "The truth?"

"The truth."

"But Tyelko said..." He did not continue.

"Tyelko feared that you would steal the love we gave to him, and before that, Makalaurë feared the same. Before him, Maitimo was no different. Many at first fear what they do not know, but given time they grow to love it."

Like a small animal that leaves its burrow once danger has passed, he crawled from the bed and into my lap, his head against my shoulder. His frown turned into a smile.

"Then if he - " his hands strayed to my belly - "is afraid of us too, I'll make it right."

Chapter End Notes

Ratiocination rash-ee-ah-suh-NAY-shun; rash-ee-oh-, noun:
The process of reasoning.

Ratiocination is from Latin rationcinatio, from ratiocinari, "to compute, to calculate, to reason," from ratio, "reckoning, calculation, reason," from reri, "to reckon, to think."

(from www.dictionary.com)