Child of the Woods by Aprilertuile

Chapter 11: Home sweet home

They only stayed at the palace a couple of days, during which Finwë hadn’t taken Turkafinwë back in his arms, and hadn’t really looked at him either. It had saddened her husband, but Nerdanel thought it better this way.

Going back home was only a matter of a couple of hours from the palace, and Turkafinwë was in Maitimo’s arms all the way there.

Her eldest son had his hair in tight braids out of the way of potential curious baby hands, and Makalaurë was riding his brother’s horse.

“Relieve me of a doubt... The baby’s room wasn’t exactly ready when we left home, right... ?” Maitimo commented suddenly.

Nerdanel and Fëanáro exchanged a look at that.

“We might have left in somewhat of a hurry.” Fëanáro commented.

“I needed to go in order to fulfil that order!” Nerdanel told him.

“So no, the baby room wasn’t exactly ready. But I think we already put the crib in the room. It was Makalaurë’s old one, I think. If not, I’ll go look for it quickly while you boys take care of your brother.” Fëanáro completed.

Maitimo nodded, and upon their arrival, he let his mother see with their seneschal and stable hands for the care of the horse and of their belongings, and pulled his brother inside the house, carrying little Turkafinwë.

“How was the palace?”

“... Interesting?”

“That’s a question or an affirmation?”

“Grand-father’s been trying to introduce me to girls he finds appropriate.” Maitimo grumbled unhappily.

“Ew.” Makalaurë grimaced.

“See? I was there to work but no! He absolutely wanted me to be sociable and meet the daughter of this and that courtier and to have my opinion on them!”

“Dare I ask what you told him?”

“That I liked the flower arrangement for the ball room better than the company of those girls.”

Makalaurë was laughing hysterically when Fëanáro came to find them.

“Dare I ask?”

“You probably don’t want to know.” Maitimo answered him.

“Right. I’m stealing your baby brother.”

“The one laughing madly or the nice one?”

“Nelyo...”

“Oh fine, deprive me of the company of my peaceful baby brother.”

“He’s not peaceful. And he hates me.” Makalaurë said dramatically.

“Gross exaggeration love, your brother is a baby, he doesn’t hate anyone yet.” Fëanáro said amused, taking Turkafinwë in his arms before leaving the room.

“He does! That baby is evil! He was nicer to random bugs than to me! His own brother!” Makalaurë insisted in a whisper.

And Makalaurë started to narrate for his elder brother some of their baby brother’s exploits, making him laugh uproariously, even as Nerdanel and Fëanáro were busy getting Turkafinwë’s room in order.