Prezzie Fic -- LotR (elves)
Aug. 11th, 2010 05:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
la_samtyrThis fic was written as a prezzie for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chaotic_binky which she has been kind enough to allow me to repost here; it is set in her "Ereolas" and "Melpomaen" universe.
Title: The Blue Parrot
Author: Samtyr
Beta: None. All mistakes are mine.
Note: Set in Binky's "Ereolas" and "Melpomaen" 'verse.
Three days later, a group of traders arrived with a package from Gildor. Rather, it was a covered cage so my elflings were wildly excited to discover what it might be.
"A bear cub," said Cireolas.
"Don't be silly," Ereodan scoffed as Jeli tried not to laugh too loudly. "That cage is far too small to hold a bear cub."
"A lion then!" Cireolas exclaimed.
Ereodan muttered quietly to himself about having a hopeless twit for an older brother while Jeli gave in and howled with laughter. Cireolas just looked puzzled before he turned to me.
"Well, it could be a lion." he said. "Couldn't it, ada?"
I opened the message attached to the cage and read: "This was to be a present to Lindir but as he is still a bit young to appreciate it, I am giving it to you to care for until he is of age. It talks, so I am sure your elflings will enjoy it too. (signed) Your friend, Gildor."
I carefully removed the cloth to see a lovely blue parrot sitting quietly in a large traveling cage. It chirped a few times and ruffled its feathers. By now there was quite a crowd in the courtyard, and all of the gathered elflings ooohed and ahhhhed, while Lindir clapped his little hands and gurgled happily.
During the next few weeks, the bird settled in nicely and Cireolas, Ereodan and Jeli spent hours trying to get it to speak or sing. At first I thought nothing of it, since animals need time to adjust to a new place. But though it was friendly enough and more than willing to take a biscuit from them, it never spoke.
I even heard Cirdan asking "Polly wanna biscuit?" several times when he thought no-one was around. But the bird remained resolutely silent.
~~~
My adas had just finished a sparring session and looked to be in need of refreshment, so I invited them in for tea. For once the elflings were in the kitchens helping decorate cookies for their class party the next day so I looked forward to a visit that would be uninterrupted by curious little ears. As soon as they entered the study, they put up their weapons and sat down.
"You have a parrot?" Legolas asked. "I didn't think you liked tame birds."
"Gildor sent the bird as a present for Lindir. He says it talks, but it has yet to say one single word."
"Perhaps it needs to feel more at home," Legolas suggested, as he sipped at his tea. "Maybe you should get another one."
"That is strange," Erestor mused. "Usually parrots aren't quiet -- they talk a great deal. Personally I think their so-called 'talk' sounds like babble..."
"O woe! O calamity! The High King is dead! See, he lies bleeding on the floor; his life is spent! Woe to the Noldor, who have lost their beloved King!"
Erestor choked on his tea and glared at the parrot whose black beady eyes stared back at him, while Legolas' eyes became oddly glazed.
"Woe to the Noldor! Woe unto us!"
"No! Enough! I will stop it from speaking." Legolas cried and drew his bow. I yelped, partly in pain because the parrot had landed on my head and was clinging to my hair, its claws firmly embedded in my scalp as it flapped its wings to balance as an arrow flew past the tip of my ear.
The parrot gave a loud screech and flew off but not before yanking several hairs from my head as it did so. I yelled once more as I felt the blood start, which seemed to drive Legolas into a frenzy as arrows began whizzing about the room. Not wanting to tempt fate a second time, I dived under the desk.
"Legolas, stop!" Erestor cried as I heard several bumps, thuds and crashes punctuated by the wretched bird's continued cries of 'woe, woe'. "Legolas, enough!"
I could hear the sound of running feet, and then the door slammed open.
"What is going on here?" Cirdan bellowed, just as I heard the distinct thunk of an arrow hitting wood followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. There was sudden silence, so I crawled out from underneath the desk and stared at the wreckage of our study.
"Wow, what a mess!" My brother Mel walked in, admiring the chaos left behind by the parrot's wild flight and Legolas' arrows. Glorfindel sighed and helped Legolas up off the floor since Erestor was busy rubbing at a large bump on his forehead. Cirdan scowled around the room, unamused (and unharmed, I was thankful to note). "Why did you hide, little brother? Afraid?"
I looked up, just in time to see the now-silent parrot bobbing its head while walking up and down the chandelier before stopping above Legolas and raising its tail.
"Ewwwww! I have parrot poo in my hair." Legolas shrieked. "Ewwww, ewwww, ewwww." He looked round as if to grab a new weapon. But Erestor was quicker and dragged Legolas out the door.
"Ha ha ha," said the parrot.
"It's talking," Mel stated rather obviously and began to snicker.
"Come along, meleth. We will get you cleaned up in a nice hot bath." Erestor gave me a stern look. "When I come back, I want a full explanation of all this."
"Ha ha ha," chimed in the parrot once more. "Ha ha ha."
Mel dropped to the floor with laughter and rolled around helplessly, holding his sides.
"Do I get an explanation now?" asked Cirdan in his most put-upon voice.
"If my big brother can stop laughing long enough, we can discuss it over tea." I rang for the servants since it was clear that Mel was not going to help. Within minutes, the study had been righted and I was retelling the whole sorry episode.
"So it all started with the parrot?" Cirdan asked as he reached for another sandwich.
"Or rather, it seems as if Erestor's words got the parrot started." Mel said thoughtfully. "Parrots do have the oddest sense of humor; I wonder if it decided to tease him."
"It could do that?" I asked in surprise.
"Well of course. Parrots are very intelligent."
"Ha ha ha."
I turned to glare at the wretched bird, who merely stared back. It was becoming annoying and if it had not been a present from Gildor to Lindir, I would have turned it loose.
"I wish I knew what to tell ada. He is not happy about this at all."
Mel turned and began to speak to the bird in the Maia language. The bird chirped back and their conversation continued for several minutes.
"Lang says it was funny to see Ada Erestor get so mad, though he doesn't quite understand why Ada Legolas tried to shoot him."
"It -- I mean, he told you all that?" I had to admit that I was not sure if Mel was joking with me or not. "Why are you calling him Lang?"
"It's his name; of course he would tell me his name once we were properly introduced." Mel looked at me as if shocked I had forgotten the most basic etiquette.
"But why did he say those particular words?"
There was another brief conversation between Maia and parrot; then Mel said: "He says he learned it from Gildor. I believe they were rehearsing a new play about the darkening of Valinor and the flight of the Noldor, and the High King in question is Finwë."
It made perfect sense but I couldn't help but feel mildly skeptical. "Even if I accept this, I think Erestor will want more definite proof."
"Oh, very well then." Mel sighed. "I suppose I will be the one to sort it all out. But I can tell you this much – Ada Erestor's not going to like having to apologise to Lang for insulting his language."
I wondered if I could accompany Mel after all; that would be something to see!
Note: Lang -- Cutlass (arwen-undomiel dot com)
xxxEndxxx
chaotic_binky which she has been kind enough to allow me to repost here; it is set in her "Ereolas" and "Melpomaen" universe.Title: The Blue Parrot
Author: Samtyr
Beta: None. All mistakes are mine.
Note: Set in Binky's "Ereolas" and "Melpomaen" 'verse.
Three days later, a group of traders arrived with a package from Gildor. Rather, it was a covered cage so my elflings were wildly excited to discover what it might be.
"A bear cub," said Cireolas.
"Don't be silly," Ereodan scoffed as Jeli tried not to laugh too loudly. "That cage is far too small to hold a bear cub."
"A lion then!" Cireolas exclaimed.
Ereodan muttered quietly to himself about having a hopeless twit for an older brother while Jeli gave in and howled with laughter. Cireolas just looked puzzled before he turned to me.
"Well, it could be a lion." he said. "Couldn't it, ada?"
I opened the message attached to the cage and read: "This was to be a present to Lindir but as he is still a bit young to appreciate it, I am giving it to you to care for until he is of age. It talks, so I am sure your elflings will enjoy it too. (signed) Your friend, Gildor."
I carefully removed the cloth to see a lovely blue parrot sitting quietly in a large traveling cage. It chirped a few times and ruffled its feathers. By now there was quite a crowd in the courtyard, and all of the gathered elflings ooohed and ahhhhed, while Lindir clapped his little hands and gurgled happily.
During the next few weeks, the bird settled in nicely and Cireolas, Ereodan and Jeli spent hours trying to get it to speak or sing. At first I thought nothing of it, since animals need time to adjust to a new place. But though it was friendly enough and more than willing to take a biscuit from them, it never spoke.
I even heard Cirdan asking "Polly wanna biscuit?" several times when he thought no-one was around. But the bird remained resolutely silent.
~~~
My adas had just finished a sparring session and looked to be in need of refreshment, so I invited them in for tea. For once the elflings were in the kitchens helping decorate cookies for their class party the next day so I looked forward to a visit that would be uninterrupted by curious little ears. As soon as they entered the study, they put up their weapons and sat down.
"You have a parrot?" Legolas asked. "I didn't think you liked tame birds."
"Gildor sent the bird as a present for Lindir. He says it talks, but it has yet to say one single word."
"Perhaps it needs to feel more at home," Legolas suggested, as he sipped at his tea. "Maybe you should get another one."
"That is strange," Erestor mused. "Usually parrots aren't quiet -- they talk a great deal. Personally I think their so-called 'talk' sounds like babble..."
"O woe! O calamity! The High King is dead! See, he lies bleeding on the floor; his life is spent! Woe to the Noldor, who have lost their beloved King!"
Erestor choked on his tea and glared at the parrot whose black beady eyes stared back at him, while Legolas' eyes became oddly glazed.
"Woe to the Noldor! Woe unto us!"
"No! Enough! I will stop it from speaking." Legolas cried and drew his bow. I yelped, partly in pain because the parrot had landed on my head and was clinging to my hair, its claws firmly embedded in my scalp as it flapped its wings to balance as an arrow flew past the tip of my ear.
The parrot gave a loud screech and flew off but not before yanking several hairs from my head as it did so. I yelled once more as I felt the blood start, which seemed to drive Legolas into a frenzy as arrows began whizzing about the room. Not wanting to tempt fate a second time, I dived under the desk.
"Legolas, stop!" Erestor cried as I heard several bumps, thuds and crashes punctuated by the wretched bird's continued cries of 'woe, woe'. "Legolas, enough!"
I could hear the sound of running feet, and then the door slammed open.
"What is going on here?" Cirdan bellowed, just as I heard the distinct thunk of an arrow hitting wood followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor. There was sudden silence, so I crawled out from underneath the desk and stared at the wreckage of our study.
"Wow, what a mess!" My brother Mel walked in, admiring the chaos left behind by the parrot's wild flight and Legolas' arrows. Glorfindel sighed and helped Legolas up off the floor since Erestor was busy rubbing at a large bump on his forehead. Cirdan scowled around the room, unamused (and unharmed, I was thankful to note). "Why did you hide, little brother? Afraid?"
I looked up, just in time to see the now-silent parrot bobbing its head while walking up and down the chandelier before stopping above Legolas and raising its tail.
"Ewwwww! I have parrot poo in my hair." Legolas shrieked. "Ewwww, ewwww, ewwww." He looked round as if to grab a new weapon. But Erestor was quicker and dragged Legolas out the door.
"Ha ha ha," said the parrot.
"It's talking," Mel stated rather obviously and began to snicker.
"Come along, meleth. We will get you cleaned up in a nice hot bath." Erestor gave me a stern look. "When I come back, I want a full explanation of all this."
"Ha ha ha," chimed in the parrot once more. "Ha ha ha."
Mel dropped to the floor with laughter and rolled around helplessly, holding his sides.
"Do I get an explanation now?" asked Cirdan in his most put-upon voice.
"If my big brother can stop laughing long enough, we can discuss it over tea." I rang for the servants since it was clear that Mel was not going to help. Within minutes, the study had been righted and I was retelling the whole sorry episode.
"So it all started with the parrot?" Cirdan asked as he reached for another sandwich.
"Or rather, it seems as if Erestor's words got the parrot started." Mel said thoughtfully. "Parrots do have the oddest sense of humor; I wonder if it decided to tease him."
"It could do that?" I asked in surprise.
"Well of course. Parrots are very intelligent."
"Ha ha ha."
I turned to glare at the wretched bird, who merely stared back. It was becoming annoying and if it had not been a present from Gildor to Lindir, I would have turned it loose.
"I wish I knew what to tell ada. He is not happy about this at all."
Mel turned and began to speak to the bird in the Maia language. The bird chirped back and their conversation continued for several minutes.
"Lang says it was funny to see Ada Erestor get so mad, though he doesn't quite understand why Ada Legolas tried to shoot him."
"It -- I mean, he told you all that?" I had to admit that I was not sure if Mel was joking with me or not. "Why are you calling him Lang?"
"It's his name; of course he would tell me his name once we were properly introduced." Mel looked at me as if shocked I had forgotten the most basic etiquette.
"But why did he say those particular words?"
There was another brief conversation between Maia and parrot; then Mel said: "He says he learned it from Gildor. I believe they were rehearsing a new play about the darkening of Valinor and the flight of the Noldor, and the High King in question is Finwë."
It made perfect sense but I couldn't help but feel mildly skeptical. "Even if I accept this, I think Erestor will want more definite proof."
"Oh, very well then." Mel sighed. "I suppose I will be the one to sort it all out. But I can tell you this much – Ada Erestor's not going to like having to apologise to Lang for insulting his language."
I wondered if I could accompany Mel after all; that would be something to see!
Note: Lang -- Cutlass (arwen-undomiel dot com)
xxxEndxxx
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no subject
Date: 2010-08-12 05:55 am (UTC)I doubt Erestor will apologise. He does not like admitting he is wrong. Cirdan surreptitiously saying, 'Polly wanna biscuit' had me grinning too.
I have posted an entry on my page for everyone to come along and read it.
Thank you again, Hugs Binky xxx
no subject
Date: 2010-08-12 06:20 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for your kind words.
*hugs*
Sam
no subject
Date: 2010-08-12 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-12 06:27 pm (UTC)*hugs*
Sam
no subject
Date: 2010-08-13 01:48 am (UTC)Though I don't believe for a minute that Legolas actually missed! The very idea! *swoons*
*gets back up* I usually don't go for potty humor, but I loved that Lang pooped on Legolas's head ;-)
Lovely! :-)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 03:26 am (UTC)Lang the parrot is protected by a spell courtesy of Radagast (Aiwendil), who gave him to Gildor. So technically speaking, Legolas didn't miss. :)
*hugs*
Sam
no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 07:24 am (UTC)Definitely enjoyed! :-)
no subject
Date: 2010-11-05 11:54 am (UTC)I second you on that! Outre, but strangely it works.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-13 04:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 03:32 am (UTC)Parrots do seem to have a gift for embarrassing their owners with ill-timed talk. [I have first-hand experience witnessing this, lol.]
As Will Rogers said: "Try to live your life so that you wouldn't be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
*hugs*
Sam
no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 11:02 pm (UTC)Cute story but I could not post there. :)
Hugs binky xxx
no subject
Date: 2010-08-15 01:13 pm (UTC)I will recheck my settings because she shouldn't have had a problem leaving a comment...
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2010-11-05 11:58 am (UTC)Oh, yes, I can imagine Binky's Cirdan (should I say, Ereolas' Cirdan?) giving furtive looks left and right before asking the bird!
He says he learned it from Gildor. I believe they were rehearsing a new play about the darkening of Valinor and the flight of the Noldor, and the High King in question is Finwë.
Coughs. I certainly cannot see Erestor being convinced sans credible proof!
I wondered if I could accompany Mel after all; that would be something to see!
That just demands a sequel scene, don't you think? Gets ready to beg for that.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-06 01:21 am (UTC)I really hadn't thought about a sequel -- we will have to see. And Erestor is notoriously hard to convince at times... ;)