Falkner was still attempting, best he could, not to stand out.
But that wasn’t easy when he stood out like a sore thumb. A human child in a place of... Elves. He still tried to wrap his head around what had transpired and how he had gotten here. Dressed in spiffy, finer clothing than he’d ever worn in his young life, living with a man who had claimed him as his son.
He knew many of the elves disappproved. They gave him looks, looks as though he didn’t belong there, and perhaps he didn’t. But fate had smiled on him, it had put him in the path of someone who had decided to save his life, give him a home to call his own.
Perhaps in time he might prove himself to them. Perhaps not and he might forever be simply an outsider among the elves. But he swore to himself he would not be frightened off, if anything he felt driven by the stares. To prove himself - and to show them that he was worth saving.
For the moment though, he was simply minding himself. Taking some time off in one of the many fields to enjoy the day letting the sun beat against him as he inspects his bow. He plucked at the string of it slightly, noticing now how crude it was as compared to others he’d already seen.
He’d definitely need to start proving himself by making himself look less pathetic. “That’ll be easy,” he jested to himself. “For a boy found half dead on the riverbank.”
To say that today had been an intimate day for Galadîr and Elhadron was putting it mildly. The morning had started off usually enough - Galadîr snuggled against Elhadron's chest, waking up to a soft kiss from him. However, the elf had proposed to him this morning, with a fine ring and a necklace. The rest of the morning was spent enjoying each other's company, and the intimacy that came from being newly engaged to a future husband. He had decided to close his shop for the day, as did Elhadron, even though the two were working from the same building.
The afternoon had been spent riding on horseback with each other to a small lake, where they feasted on a picnic lunch of roast ham and bread, as well as fine wine and fruit tarts with honey. Now, the sun was beginning to set, and the two men soon decided to rest for a short time before they arrived back home.
A child, no later than 14 or 13, rested under the tree, playing with a bow that seemed much cruder than an elven bow.
The two dismounted, approaching the lad.
"Hello there. I do not believe we have been acquainted. I am Galadîr, and this is my fiance Elhadron. A pleasure to meet you." He extended his hand to shake.
The two elven men definitely startled him a little.
It wasn’t that he was not used to seeing them, well, everywhere. He had been there only a short time but long enough that the elves were... Still pretty awesome. For a boy who had never seen him before he’d been taken under the wing of one. But were becoming a familiar sight. Though he did his right best to not look at every new one with awe. They were people the same as he was, not something or someone to gawk at. And what’s more they had given him a home so well, he didn’t want to look weird.
All the same the ten year old gave a little jump.
Standing to his feet however, he brushed himself off a little. At first he half expected them to ask him what he was doing there. He’d gotten that question a few times from rather inquisitive or perhaps skeptical elves. Yet... They spoke kindly and seemed nice... Well, that was certainly not expected he figured. He tried to straighten himself a bit in a show of respect - still feeling a bit like a guest in the elves home in his own way.
“It’s... It’s nice to make your aquaintence?” He attempted to speak in a way that didn’t scream “hi I was raised in the woods by a hunter!” but perhaps came out a bit shaky. “I’m Falkner.” He took the outstretched hand. He shook it carefully and took a look over at their horses.
“Out for a ride?” He asked in an attempt to make conversation.
The two elven men smiled at the lad, grabbing a blanket from their saddlebag, sitting down next to each other as Elhadron wrapped his cloak around Galadîr like a blanket. Galadîr handed the blanket to the child, no more then ten. He felt bad for the lad, being scared of elves like him. He knew what King Thranduil thought of humans and how they should not be allowed into the Mirkwood, but did that still apply when you were a child? He didn't know. Hopefully the King would understand.
"Aye, we are. Elhadron proposed to me earlier today, so we decided to take the day off with a good breakfast and a ride to the lake, where we had a nice picnic lunch. We have a few leftovers if you'd like something to eat. If you need a ride back to Adanhedel's house, we would be glad to provide it."
Man these two were certainly more friendly than he expected.
Maybe he had the wrong idea and not all of the elves really thought of him as imposing upon their way of life. He knew from talk that he was not wrong about the king. He seemed to strongly dislike humans and he wondered how often he would fight against his inclusion here. But at the same time, he felt as though he was here and he suppose perhaps some elves had at least accepted that.
He hesitated to take the blanket, but realizing it was getting a little darker noted he was probably better off doing so. Murmuring a thanks, he wrapped it around his shoulders. When he mentioned his foster father, he frowned a moment - so word had definitely gotten out about him quite a bit then. So he could certainly see these two did not care what he was... A fact which made him relax considerably.
With a smile, he decided to add. “Well congratulations to you then! You two seem like you’ll be very happy if you wish to spend that much time together,” he noted as he seated himself back down. “I um... I don’t want to impose too much. But I could probably do with a ride back. I’m still learning my way around...” he said as he tried to ignore the fact he was indeed hungry.
“So my name has gotten around then I see. Since you knew whom I live with.” He noted, rather curious, or if it was simply a guess.
The sky was on fire, to say the least. Bright and vivid with the colors of the evening - red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and ultimately a dark blue where night began to reveal itself to the people.
They knew the elves weren't totally accepting of his relationship with Elhadron, but a human child in the Mirkwood? It seemed almost impossible for them to support, even if the child had been adopted by their friend Adanhedel.
"Thank you. Now, we should get going before too much longer." They got up, and Galadîr extended his hand to help the child up as Elhadron mounted the other horse.
Post by Thangureth on Mar 10, 2018 19:52:19 GMT -5
Falkner gave a nod as the elf man helped him up.
He decided that perhaps he wasn’t being as friendly as he should be. Especially given they were becoming so kind to him. He knew if he were to live here, he needed to make friends. Not act like a scared little boy who had no idea what he was doing. He wanted to be friendly and kind in return, and perhaps it was all a matter of getting to know one another better.
“If you don’t mind me asking, have you both lived in Mirkwood all your life?” He asked rather curiously, his voice a bit more bright as he did. “My father used to tell me stories of the elves. And how they had many settlements, or so they say. And Mirkwood is such a beautiful place - I can only imagine what the others must appear like.” He added rather whimsically.
In turn he offered an answer as to his own origins. “Though I must admit it is very comfortable here for me. My father raised me in the wilds. So I am a friend of the wilderness - or so I like to believe,” he explained a smile stretching a little on his face. “Being around others may take a fair bit of getting used to. I spent all ten years alone with him outside of the ocaional visits into various towns and cities.”
After which he noted. “I’ve never seen anywhere quite like this though. He would have loved it.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, have you both lived in Mirkwood all your life?”
Once Elhadron had helped the child up onto the other horse, he mounted the same horse as Galadîr, holding the young warrior-smith close and smiling.
"Aye, we have lived here our entire lives. I haven't done much traveling, same with Elhadron here. However, I lost... my sister, to an orc band. I rode out with my father, brothers, and Elhadron. I lost my father that day, and my mother soon after. My brothers got married soon after. We do enjoy the wilderness, especially the lake on a warm day. But, we need to focus on what's ahead. Let's get going. Do you know how to ride?"
He’d ridden horses only once or twice in his life, and at ten he wasn’t the most adept rider. But he did know his small amount of basics - enough he could get it to move at least. Shifting his weight a bit, he listened to his newfound friends answer with curiosity. “I know enough to ride and not get myself thrown off,” he jested a little. “But you won’t see me riding one off anywhere far anytime soon.” He added.
He gave a soft kick to start the horse off, careful to hold onto the reigns. He looked over at them and decided to continue on their conversation. “It amazes me how often people stay in the same place. I moved around often with my own father. He told me I was born somewhere near Gondor. But my first memories were visiting the captital in Rohan with him,” he explained. “I can’t even tell how I came to be in these parts, I traveled too far after father died I imagine. Then Adan found me by a river... Good thing too, I probably would have died.”
He supposed he’d need to get used to living in one place though. Mirkwood was his home now though he hoped that Andan may take him along when he traveled. “I’m sorry to hear you have lost your parents and sister as well. I hear the orcs are truly brutish.” He paused a moment before adding. “My father said he once fought them - before I was born. Said they were the most vile things he’d ever seen.”
Last Edit: Mar 11, 2018 1:09:25 GMT -5 by Thangureth
Galadir chuckled at the young boy's joke, smiling warmly. "Aye, it isn't too far over to Mirkwood - about fifteen minutes, by horseback at least. You've been to Rohan and Gondor? I've always wanted to go to Edoras and Gondor - they seem like beautiful cities." He paused for a moment, gently kicking the horse to urge it forward to Mirkwood, so the two could get some rest. "Though, Mirkwood will always be home to me - I was born and raised here, and I feel like I belong here with Elhadron when we get married."