In Those Days by Dagstjarna  

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Summer

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Nerdanel returned home from her morning ride through the misty Summer meadows, and dropped out of the saddle. 

“Come along, “ She coaxed her horse into the stables. 

Inside she brought  to her usual stall, ready to brush her down and fill her trough, only to find it filled by another, unfamiliar horse- a gray speckled palfrey 

“Oh!” She cried with sudden recollection. “Prince Fëanor is visiting!” 

How could she forget? She took care of  as quickly as she could, and hurried into the house, hoping there was no straw in her hair as she stumbled into the kitchen. There, sitting by himself at the sanded table, was an elf a little younger than herself. He was dressed for travel, and a plain tunic stained from use in workshops much like her own- the typical Noldorin fashion. 

“Hi,” she said, suddenly able to feel herself turning red to the ears. “My name’s Nerdanel. I’m Mahtan’s daughter,” 

“Hello,” he said, looking as sheepish as she felt. “Pleased to meet you. Thank you for having me at your h-home.” 

“Thanks for staying. We’re always happy to have visitors. Do you like to fish?” 

“Yes,” he said, brightening. “My Atya loves fishing! We go ice fishing every year.” 

“I’ve never been ice fishing before, but it’s salmon season right now. I like to go watch the bears catch them in the waterfalls, if you want to go with me after breakfast.” 

“There you are, Nerdanel!” Mahtan said cheerfully entering the kitchen with a loaf of bread tucked under each arm. “I see you’ve met our guest. What’s this about bears?” 

“It’s salmon season! Can I take Fëanor to see the bears fishing?” 

“Fëanor,” Mahtan said curtly. “Has been traveling for days and may wish to rest and have a bath. What say you?” 

Fëanor considered. 

“I want to take a bath,” He decided. “But I don’t want to rest.” 

“And then we can go see the bears!” Nerdanel cheered. 

“Alright, but take your mother so you don’t get hurt. Bears are dangerous.” 

“Really, Atya? I had no idea.” 

Mahtan and Nerdanel set out breakfast- buttered bread, salmon, and raspberries with cream. They were shortly joined by a tall woman with thick chestnut hair and cheeks as red as madder, dressed for walking. 

“Hello Ammë!” Nerdanel greeted her mother, Mornaríë, eagerly. “This is Fëanor! He wants to come with us to see the bears.” 

“Yes, I figured! And I’ve met Fëanor before, dear, remember? I was one of Miriel’s waiting ladies.” 

“Oh yes, that’s right.” 

After breakfast Feanor went off to have his bath. Nerdanel got some chores done while she waited, until he reappeared in the kitchen with wet hair looking much refreshed. Then Nerdanel, Fëanor, and Mornaríë headed out to see the bears. They walked through the meadows Nerdanel had ridden through not long before, still damp with dew. Their feet sank in deep cushions of moss as they climbed slopes, through boulders and pine stands, with the occasional bright red glimpse of toadstools.

 Nerdanel’s mother climbed sure and long-legged up the slopes, outpacing them in a stride, and stopping to look back and laugh at them still so far behind. 

“Hurry up, slow pokes!” 

“Ugh!” Nerdanel groaned. “Slow down!”

They came to a place where the earth dropped off to a fifteen foot cliff full of shale and roots, overlooking the pool at the base of a short waterfall. Below several bears soaked in the churning water. The three of them laid on their stomachs propped up on elbows. 

“Do they know we’re here?” Fëanor asked in a whisper.

“Oh yes.” Mornaríë answered. “They can smell us leagues off.” 

“Oh. Do they…ever eat elves?” 

“Yes.” She said flatly. Fëanor gulped. “But we eat them, too.” 

“Will you hunt them now?” He asked, eyeing her bow and full quiver. 

“No. I just brought this for self defense. We hunt them in the fall when they’re nice and fat! That way we get the most fat for tallow, meat to eat, and the pelt is bigger.” 

“How many do you usually get?” 

“Two ideally, for just the family. Sometimes more, and sometimes none.” 

When they reached the house again, the light was getting to mingling, and Mahtan was out in the garden with a baby pointing at flowers. Mornaríë ran over to pick her up and kiss her. 

Nerdanel scowled. 

“What’s wrong?” Asked Fëanor. 

“Nothing,” Nerdanel lied. Her whole life she had never had any siblings, and in a way she was grateful for a new baby sister- or she would be, once she knew what it meant. She knew being a big sister and having another child in the family would not be bad, but she also knew it would never be the same. 

When she looked up from her thoughts she found Fëanor frowning at her. 

“What?” She asked him.

“Nothing,” He said, smiling then, in an imitation of herself, and she found herself laughing.