On The Shores Of Cuivienen by Kaylee Arafinwiel

On The Shores Of Cuivienen

By the shore of Cuivienen, in the camp of the Nelyai 

"Khīn." The silver-haired elfling turned away from the waves lapping at his feet with great reluctance.

"Atta?" He tilted his head to one side as his father beckoned him away. "Atta, I was just--" he began, falling silent at his father's headshake.

"I know what thou wast 'just' about, khīn. It is not for thee to go alone to the waters, Solwë. Dost thou understand?"

Solwë shook his head. "But Atta, I was not alone, Solwen--"

Minwë wheeled around. "Solwen!" The little girl scrambled down the shore, hems of woven sea-grasses soaked, and gave Minwë a gap-toothed grin.

"Atta! Did you see it?"

"Did I see what, khīnā?" "It was in the water and it smiled at me!" Solwen bounced up and down, pointing. "Look!"

Minwë looked. A sleek grey shape was dancing and leaping parallel to the shore, and chattering happily at Solwen. It did indeed seem to be smiling. He let out a slow breath, holding his two youngest - middle, he thought dizzily - elflings to him as the grey creature leaped away. "Come, khīni," he commanded them both, and led Solwë and Solwen up the beach, back to the many-roomed dwelling of Enel. His father the Chieftain was on the hunt, but Vilyë had entrusted Helwë with the keeping of the twins while she laboured and now--

"We are sorry, Atta," Solwen offered. "But it was so beautiful," she couldn't help adding.

Minwë sighed and rolled his eyes skyward. "We shall see what your emel says." The two elflings exchanged dismayed looks. They trotted hand-in-hand over floors of woven reed mats, until they came to where Helwë was standing in a corner, safely out of the way where the Dark Hunter would not get him.

Helwë turned at his atta's command and swallowed. "Atta...I have no excuse, Sir," he offered meekly. "But you know how the twins are."

"I do know," Minwë said dryly. "What am I to do with the three of you?"

"Take them to meet their new brother, khīn nin," Enelye advised, the Lady of the Nelyai stepping from behind a dried-seaweed curtain and pushing it aside so they could enter. "As for the rest, surely we will work it out together."

Minwë bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Come, khīni."