bingo_bolger_baggins

*to Bingo* Oh, he asked if this was our home, Bingo.

*turns to Curufin* Yup. All us hobbits here live here in this smial. Elanor's just visiting . . . so far. But I think Bingo's trying to make one of the guest rooms a permanent Elanor Room.

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'All'? How many altogether? Are you one family unit or...? *wonders which one is Elanor*

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Well, it varies--we've had hobbits come and go here, unfortunately. But right now there are 6 of us here, counting Elanor. *holds up 7 fingers*

*points at each hobbit in turn* Well, Bingo and Folly are cousins of mine and Celly is a more distant cousin and my girlfriend. And Isengar is our great uncle, pretty much. Elanor isn't related to any of us, but her father and brother live next door. Bingo's younger half-brother is married to Elanor's father. Elanor's kind of related to you folks, too, or her daughter is anyway, but you probably know that. *nods as if this is all easy to follow*

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*blinks*

*smiles, rather lost* That sounds like many of the Elven family trees. Quite complicated and intertwined, but worth evenings of stories.

Is she?

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*approaches Curufin and Melba, unaware that they've just been talking about her and her daughter*

*smiles brightly and offers her hand* You must be Celebrimbor's father. I'm Elanor Gamgee, a friend of Melba's. This is indeed a pleasure.

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*takes her hand, places his other hand atop their clasped hands for a moment* So this is Elanor! The pleasure is mine. That I am, but you may call me Curufin. *smiles*

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*temporarily disarmed by the sound of his voice (the charm not hurting, either), it does not immediately occur to her to wonder where he had heard her name before*

*returning his smile* Thank you, Curufin. The other day I was telling your son that the Shire is so rarely graced by the presence of the Noldor, so tonight we are triply honored to have your family as our guests. Will you be staying in the area for a while?

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*picks up his glass of wine, sips, appraising her*

Very kind of you to say so. I hope you shall continue to feel that way. My plans are...uncertain at the moment. *darts a look at his father* However, I do hope to enjoy my son's company for the next few weeks.

I understand you are a guest here as well? Though newly returned, and not a stranger?

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*draws back slightly, sensing that he is studying her, but feeling strangely at ease with him nonetheless*

*raises an eyebrow and says quietly, simply* I hope I am not given reason to feel otherwise. *follows his eyes to where Fëanor is sitting, returns and fixes them on Curufin's once more; nods her understanding* I hope that you both have an enjoyable and fruitful visit.

*smiles, flattered by the interest he is showing in her; figures making a bit of small talk can't hurt and besides, it's nothing he couldn't find out about her some other way* Yes, I've recently returned after spending two years abroad. In fact, I grew up... *suddenly dawning on her how he may have known her name* next.. door.

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*begins to relax ~~but remains alert to any movements by his father or son~~, senses in her a grace not entirely hobbitish, if he can judge by so brief an acquaintance*

*raises his glass slightly toward her, with a conspiratorial smile* Indeed, let us hope. *sips* Thank you, it has been too long since we spent time together, and we have much to discuss. *is distracted for a moment, then recalls his manners*

Abroad? Fascinating. I have read but a little about the Shire folk, but I understood that travel beyond the boundaries of the Shire was...out of the ordinary. Is this not so?

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*nods, tries not to give him a, "You should get out more" look*Things have changed since the Third Age. Folly and I backpacked to Rhun a couple years ago. Celly was out at Erebor for several years on an exchange program with the Dwarves there, and Bingo spent years out in Umbar, Harad, and Gondor before coming back home here to settle again. And Uncle Sennie has been off sailing all over, but he even did that during the Third Age.

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*smiles at Melba* The trouble with history books is that history goes on, while a book must be printed. Obviously I shall need to expand my selection of source material about Shire folk.

*looks to Elanor, hoping she will elaborate* Melba mentioned you have a daughter. Are you already instilling in her a love for travel?

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True. *nods, appreciates his admission, smiles at him* Which is what second editions are for. And other books which will tell you completely different histories from someone else's point of view. I'm not the most well-read Hobbit, by any means, but I've seen that. They don't always match up.

*glances again at his pocket while he turns to Elanor--damn, what is that? It almost gives her a dizzy feeling, like she's looking down from a great height*

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*cannot help but smile and tip her own glass at Curufin's salute; while the the quality of the elf's character had yet to be established, he certainly had style and presence*

*sips her wine and studies him with interest while he and Melba continue their conversation; is caught off guard, however, when he asks about Ana*

*collects herself while taking a strategic sip, smiling brightly as she responds* I do hope to foster in my daughter a love for travel as well as an appreciation and respect for other peoples and cultures. I'm a bit embarrassed to say, however, that she has not done that much traveling yet. I suppose I am still a bit over-protective of her, as parents of young children often are. *with a smile of shared understanding* Although I suppose that feeling never quite goes away entirely, no matter how many years one's child has attained.

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An excellent goal. Ah, yes, one of the drawbacks of being a parent. You want to show your child everything and yet keep him safe. *quietly, with a look at Celebrimbor* Keep him safe and yet prepare him to face anything, even if he hates you for it. *rueful smile at Elanor* No, I suspect you will always feel your daughter's hold on your heart. She is too young, then, for travel? May I ask how old she is?

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*smiles kindly at him, her eyes softened with both gratitude and compassion*

I do not think your son hates you, Curufin.

*spots Celebrimbor approaching (http://www.livejournal.com/users/bbolger_baggins/60495.html?thread=1759567#t1759567) and politely excuses herself from the conversation, only mildly surprised to find herself regretting its end*

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*is grateful for her kind reaction*

He certainly has every reason to.

*watches with regret as Elanor leaves them*

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*laughs* You are quite right. On the contrary, many are unwilling to recognize what they are reading as the author's perception. After all, histories are usually written by the victorious sides. That naturally colors the perception of an event, or of a war, or even of a family, and how it is viewed by future generations.

*again senses her unsettling interest, resists urge to check his inner shirt pocket*

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*shakes her head to shake off the dizzy feeling, and resists urge to look over at Celebrimbor* Yeah. So what do you think about what's been written about your famous family? Gonna write your own take on it some day?

*looks around for Celly* Celly? *motions her to come over, to Curufin* You haven't met Celandine yet. She's a fabulous smith.

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*small smile* I think history needs another perspective regarding our family. My brother Maglor was the bard of the family, but perhaps those of us who remain ~~and are not wandering around mysteriously~~ will take on that task.

*senses a change in Celebrimbor's mood, wonders if he can angle them toward his son* Another smith? This room certainly has no shortage of talent, does it. Has Celly met my son? *gestures toward Celebrimbor*

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celbrandybuck.livejournal.com

*smiles at Melba then to Curufin* Hello! I'm Celandine Brandybuck. *extends her hand* It is an honour to meet you. I have indeed met you're famous and talented son. *waves to Celebrimbor*

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It is my pleasure, Celandine. *takes her hand, smiling* He is quite a craftsman, is he not? And I understand you have met my father already? ~~*is somewhat amused to be identified mostly as his son's father, or alternately as his father's son*~~

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celbrandybuck.livejournal.com

*smiles back warmly and openly, having experienced nothing but graciousness from the Noldor* He is legendary for a good reason. Did you instruct him in the arts of the smith, or is your specialty in other arts?

*nods* I have met him. And he was all kindness to me and patient with the prattlings of this aspirant to the craft. *laughs at herself*

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celebrimborx.livejournal.com

*nods and smiles at Celandine*

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